Gyokeres vows to use Carabao Cup final pain as fuel in treble hunt

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Viktor Gyokeres has promised Arsenal will channel their Carabao Cup final disappointment into renewed determination as the Gunners continue their pursuit of silverware across three remaining competitions.

The striker’s defiant response came after Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday, which ended their hopes of lifting the Carabao Cup.

International break offers reset opportunity

Gyokeres believes the timing of the international break could prove beneficial for Arsenal’s players to regroup following what many considered their worst performance of the season. The Swedish forward will have his own focus with Thursday’s World Cup playoff against Ukraine in Valencia.

“Of course, we don’t feel great right now but it’s not like we have a game in three days. For sure, we will go again and be even more motivated for those games,”

Gyokeres said after the match.

The defeat marked only Arsenal’s fourth loss in 50 matches this season, with the north London side maintaining their nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League, despite having played one game more than City.

Wembley turning point

The final’s decisive moment came when backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who started ahead of first-choice David Raya, dropped a cross that allowed Nico O’Reilly to open the scoring. O’Reilly added a second in the 64th minute to seal City’s victory.

Reflecting on the match, Gyokeres acknowledged City’s control: “We created some chances at the beginning of the game and then I think it was maybe 10 minutes from the break where they got the momentum. I think they had the ball … maybe they didn’t create so many dangerous chances but they had the ball a long time.”

The striker noted how the opening goal shifted the dynamic completely, making it “difficult to get going afterwards” once City had established their advantage.

Arsenal’s attention now turns to their remaining trophy opportunities. The Gunners face Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals and have an FA Cup quarter-final away to Southampton scheduled for Saturday week. With their Premier League position still strong, the possibility of a treble remains alive despite Sunday’s setback.