London (AFP)

The three-time defending champion of the English League Cup, Manchester City, qualified for the semi-finals of the event on Tuesday by beating without too much suffering Arsenal (4-1), whose dark season even more in mediocrity.

We must go back to October 26, 2016 to find traces of a defeat for City in this event, 1-0 at Old Trafford against the future winner Manchester United in the round of 16 in the first season of Pep Guardiola at the head.

Since then, apart from an inconsequential 1-0 defeat in the semi-final second leg last season, at home, still against United and still by 1-0, after winning 3-1 in the first leg, the Mancuniens have always left the lawn as a winner.

And it was not the sad Arsenal of this season that was going to stop them.

For this match, which is however the fastest way to a possible European place, Mikel Arteta had turned by starting Shkodran Mustafi in defense and Alex Runarsson in the cages.

A bad idea, both players were out of the game.

The Icelandic goalkeeper, former resident of Ligue 1 in Dijon, is particularly directly responsible for the 2nd goal of the Citizens by releasing in his cages a free kick from Riyad Mahrez not even particularly powerful, for the 2-1 (54th).

On the opening scoring already, from the 3rd minute, he had not been imperial by being beaten at the near post by Gabriel Jesus of the head, on a cross from Oleksander Zinchenko (1-0).

- Still no spark -

On the third goal - a small ball lifted by Phil Foden as he came out in his feet (59th) - and on the fourth, scored by Aymeric Laporte who lost his starting status (4-1, 73rd), he couldn't do much, however.

There is obviously no shame for Arsenal to be taken out by City, but the way, it remains as worrying as ever, despite the brief equalization of Alexandre Lacazette, from the head (1-1, 31st).

A goal that came out of nowhere, so much the Gunners had produced nothing until then, and which remained without result, since after the break the Londoners quickly relapsed into their offensive passivity which does not bode well for weeks to come up.

Faced with the club where he was bottle-fed as a coach, being Pep Guardiola's assistant, Arteta has still not succeeded in creating the spark that could give hope for a start.

In the semi-finals which will take place at the beginning of January, Manchester City will find Brentford, 4th in the Championship (D2) and who eliminated Newcastle (1-0) thanks to a goal from Josh Dasilva who from 8 to 20 years old had worn the jersey ... Arsenal.

The other two quarter-finals will be played on Wednesday.

The other 2nd division team still in contention, Stoke City, will host Newcastle, while Everton and Manchester United will battle for the last ticket to the semi-finals.

© 2020 AFP