Scholes Tips Young Dowman to Spark Arsenal Revival as Merson Fears Barcelona Rout

Arsenal's quadruple dream lies in tatters after Sunday's 2-0 Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City at Wembley, and the fallout from that disappointing display has prompted some frank assessment from the punditry ranks.

Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, actually welcomed City's victory as a triumph for the sport itself. The former Manchester United midfielder argued that Arsenal's approach at Wembley would have made for dreadful viewing had it succeeded—a defensive masterclass built on early pressure and then shutters down.

The real issue, Scholes contends, is Arsenal's lack of creative flair. The squad, he suggests, has become workmanlike and predictable, missing the kind of players who can unlock defences through genuine artistry. While he acknowledged the absence of Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard—both capable of adding that creative edge—he reserved particular praise for one unlikely candidate: 16-year-old Max Dowman.

"He could be the person who might save their season a little bit because he can bring a bit of flair to them," Scholes said of the teenager, suggesting that Dowman's introduction could provide the X-factor currently missing from Mikel Arteta's setup.

Merson, however, painted a bleaker picture of Arsenal's remaining ambitions. Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Gunners player expressed confidence that the Premier League remains within reach, but elsewhere the outlook is grim. He dismissed Arsenal's chances of returning to Wembley to face City again in the FA Cup, and reserved his darkest warnings for the Champions League.

Should Arsenal progress to face Barcelona in the semi-finals as expected, Merson fears a chastening encounter awaits. The Catalan club's high defensive line, he argued, exposes precisely the vulnerabilities in Arsenal's attacking arsenal. Unlike Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon—who troubled Barcelona in the last 16—Arsenal's forwards lack the raw pace and explosiveness required to punish such an approach.

"I dread to think what Barcelona could do to Arsenal," Merson concluded grimly.