Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green posted a remarkable performance in the 2026 NFL Combine. This year’s event has given fans plenty of memorable moments.
Some players have turned heads with their comments, while others showed off their athletic abilities in front of scouts, executives and coaches.
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A quarterback prospect might have raised his stock on Saturday after breaking a combine record. Day 6 of the event featured quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs on the field.
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He made history at the most-watched drill of the entire event. Green recorded the fastest 40-yard dash in 20 years.
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Green’s performance drew mixed reactions. He was considered a future star, but some noted that his college numbers weren’t the best for a quarterback.
“Next Anthony Richardson,” one fan said.
“Insane. Future star,” another fan said.
“Can’t outrun those 35 career interceptions though,” another fan said.
Can’t outrun those 35 career interceptions though.
Others suggested that he should switch positions in the NFL.
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“Just go play WR, those are elite measurables and the QB understanding of defenses will be a big plus,” one fan said.
“He’s gotta switch positions no?” another fan wondered.
“Get this dude in TE drills sheesh,” another fan said.
After spending three seasons with the Boise State Broncos, Taylen Green joined the Razorbacks. He spent two seasons in Arkansas. Green went 715 of 1,190 for 9,662 yards and 19 touchdowns during his college career. He threw 35 interceptions, including a career-high 11 in 2025.
Taylen Green broke a combined record after impressive 40-yard dash
After posting the third-best 40-yard dash for a quarterback, trailing Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick (4.33) and Texas A&M’s Reggie McNeal (4.35), Taylen Green didn’t stop there. The quarterback set a new record for his position with a 11’2″ broad jump, surpassing Anthony Richardson‘s mark 10’9″ in 2023.
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Additionally, he posted a new quarterback record in the vertical jump, recording a 43.5″. He also surpassed Richardson’s 2023 record of 40.5″.
Taylen Green is projected to be selected on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft. It remains to be seen if he remains a quarterback if he makes it to the league.
Maika Hamano took a pass from the left with her back to goal, turned and launched a powerful strike from outside the area in a moment of individual brilliance that secured Japan a third Women’s Asian Cup final with a 1-0 win over Australia.
The 21-year-old Hamano, on loan at Tottenham from Chelsea, scored in the 17th minute to almost silence the crowd of 74,397 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia on Saturday night.
The Australians applied all the pressure in the last 10 minutes pressing for an equalizer but were continually denied by Japan’s defense, including Alanna Kennedy’s close-range header with two minutes left in regulation.
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Japan had beaten Australia in finals to win back-to-back Women’s Asian Cups in 2014 and 2018 and has now won the title three times in the last four continental championships.
“I just want to enjoy it today because it’s only the third time that Japan actually managed to win this tournament,” Japan coach Nils Nielsen said. “(We) really deserve it, I mean we won six games – it’s OK we take the trophy.
“The girls fought with everything they had, so did Matildas, and they made themselves proud as well.”
The Australians, who reached the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup on home soil in 2023, had 54% of possession, had 14 shots on goal compared to nine for Japan, and considerably more passes, crosses and touches in the opposition box.
But as captain Sam Kerr said, “They beat us just off one moment. For most of the game, we had the better chances and definitely in the second half, most of the possession. So it was just one moment. Unfortunately, that’s what football is decided on.
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“The last few games, we’ve had the moments and made the most of them. Tonight, they had an amazing goal.”
Japan, the top-ranked team in Asia, tallied 29 goals and conceded just one in six games in a dominant performance in Australia.
The Matildas haven’t won the continental championship since 2010, when Kerr – then 16 – scored in the decider.
Crowd records
The crowd of almost 75,000 for the final was a record for the Women’s Asian Cup along with the total crowd of 355,528 across the tournament that started on March 1.
Six teams from the Asian Cup – Japan, Australia, China, South Korea, Philippines and North Korea – have qualified for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
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Iran’s involvement
The 12-team tournament gained global attention due to the involvement of an Iranian squad affected by the Middle East war.
The Iranian team arrived in Australia before the Feb. 28 attacks by the United States and Israel triggered the Iran war, and their participation held the international focus.
Seven members of the Iran delegation initially were granted asylum by the Australian government, though all but two have since returned home.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer jogs onto the field during pregame warmups on Sep 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the team prepares for a home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with anticipation building around the young passer’s role ahead of kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
If you had big plans for 2025 undrafted free-agent quarterback Max Brosmer, it’s officially time to rethink them. In the last week, the Minnesota Vikings have onboarded Kyler Murray and re-signed last year’s QB2, Carson Wentz, spelling a mini-doomsday scenario for Brosmer.
The young quarterback’s roster standing took a serious hit over the course of a few days.
Brosmer may not have possessed the upside of a QB1 in the pros in the first place, but the Vikings’ decision-making proved recently that he’s closer to a practice-squad commodity than anything else.
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Minnesota’s QB Shuffle Leaves Brosmer in a Tough Spot
Back to the drawing board for Brosmer.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) lines up under center during second-half action against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sep. 21, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The young signal-caller directed the offense late, working through reads and adjustments as Minnesota pushed to sustain drives in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Wentz Returns
Wentz has returned to Minnesota after flirting with the New York Jets last week.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra wrote Thursday, “The Minnesota Vikings have added another veteran to their quarterback room. Carson Wentz is re-signing with the Vikings on a one-year deal, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Thursday, per sources informed of the move. The team later announced the news.”
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“The move comes after the Vikings inked Kyler Murray to a one-year deal last week to battle J.J. McCarthy for the starting gig. Retaining Wentz aims at safeguarding against the quarterback issues that sank their 2025 campaign, in which undrafted free agent Max Brosmer was forced to start two games.”
Wentz’s torn labrum should be in tip-top shape before too long, and he’s officially back in the mix for Minnesota.
Murray Added as Probable QB1
And, of course, Minnesota signed Murray on March 12th, following weeks of speculation that the former Arizona Cardinals starter would join the team he rooted for as a child and teenager. The speculation was correct.
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Murray immediately tracks as the QB1 in 2026 — how could a team not start a man who averages about 4,000 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and 600 rushing yards every 17 starts? Mind-bogglingly, because the Cardinals are the hook for Murray’s 2026 salary, the Vikings scored Murray for 1.3 million bucks.
He’d probably have to get hurt this summer to lose the starter’s job.
Zone Coverage‘sNelson Thielen wrote about Murray last week, “Murray represents Kevin O’Connell’s desperate attempt to maximize his upside and save his job — even if it means completely reorienting his offensive principles. Because what Murray does well is not what this offense ran so successfully in 2024.”
“Murray plays his best ball as a point guard at the line of scrimmage with quick, rhythmic passing. He’s a good distributor close to the line of scrimmage and saves most of his intermediate passing to concepts outside the numbers in the form of deep outs, corner routes, and comebacks. Essentially, the only time you see him throw in structure over the middle of the field is up the seam. Otherwise, it simply isn’t an element of his game.”
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O’Connell has five months to figure out his playbook to accommodate Murray. It shouldn’t be difficult.
“There is a world in which Kevin O’Connell rehabilitates Kyler’s career, and the Kyler Murray era in Minnesota extends far beyond 2026. I just hope this coaching staff is willing to go all in on that possibility, because a half measure likely leads to the same type of disjointed mess Murray was hoping to leave behind in Arizona,” Thielen added.
Brosmer Out in the Cold
Therefore, with the quarterback additions and re-signings, the Vikings’ QB depth chart now looks like this:
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Kyler Murray
J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer
Minnesota never keeps four quarterbacks on a regular season roster — sometimes it’s only two — and Brosmer is either on the practice squad in 2026 or outright released. Until this week, no one was too sure if Wentz would re-up with the Vikings, keeping hope alive for Brosmer’s inside path to the QB3 post.
Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) warms up prior to kickoff against the Rhode Island Rams, Sep. 7, 2024, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The transfer quarterback went through pregame routines, loosening his arm and preparing to lead Minnesota’s offense in an early-season nonconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Brosmer as the QB3 — or on the roster at all when the regular season rolls around — now feels like a long shot. He went from unknown, undrafted free agent to possible Brock Purdy-like breakout to a probable roster cut or practice squad candidate.
It was not a good week for Brosmer.
“Hope” for a McCarthy Trade?
Brosmer would actually benefit from a McCarthy trade, as the rumor mill has subtly suggested since the club re-signed Wentz on Thursday. Sending McCarthy to Arizona or Pittsburgh, for example, would keep Brosmer in the Vikings’ roster orbit as their single young quarterback in the pipeline.
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (9), Sam Howell (8), Brett Rypien (11), and Max Brosmer (12) participate in drills during minicamp, Jun. 10, 2025, at the Vikings Training Facility in Minneapolis. The group rotated through reps, sharpening timing and mechanics as coaches evaluated depth chart options ahead of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Of course, a McCarthy trade is unlikely, all things considered, and it doesn’t feel like Kevin O’Connell is ready to throw in the towel. During the upcoming buildup to the 2026 season, remember that Murray usually misses about four or five games per season; that would be the perfect opportunity for McCarthy to reclaim his throne — if he’s matured and developed in the background.
Otherwise, if McCarthy is out of the way, Brosmer won’t trend so irreleveantly.
Jun 11, 2025; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) stretches during Minicamp at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
3) As Trade Rumors Swirl, Jonathan Greenard Earns a Snazzy New Job: Not the news people have been waiting for in recent days and weeks. The promotion from within the NFLPA does demonstrate something important: Greenard’s peers respect him. He has always offered great leadership and energy. The new job is an extension of that reality.
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Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43), linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) and linebacker Dallas Turner (15) talk during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
4) The Vikings’ GM Didn’t Budge: Rob Brzezinski has been moving through an ongoing job interview. If he crushes these next couple of months, the Vikings’ new GM — read: fill-in GM — may already be under contract.
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
1 min read Last Updated : Mar 21 2026 | 7:27 PM IST
Wimbledon will use video review technology for the first time at this year’s tournament, the All England Club announced Saturday.
The oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament will have the technology available on Centre Court, No. 1 Court – the club’s second-biggest stadium – plus four other show courts.
Players will be allowed to review specific calls made by the chair umpire – such as double bounces.
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Video review made its Grand Slam tennis debut at the 2023 U.S. Open. The Australian Open also uses the technology.
Centre Court and No. 1 Court will have video review available throughout the tournament, which starts on June 29, and the technology will be used on No. 2 Court, No. 3 Court, Court 12 and Court 18 for singles matches.
Players will not be limited in the number of reviews they can request.
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Video review is separate from the electronic line-calling used for ruling balls in or out.
Last year, Wimbledon replaced line judges with electronic line-calling, though it wasn’t without hiccups.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
– What has changed for Atletico from the beginning of their season? – Atletico’s crazy fixtures in April – Key matchups in the Derby: Vini vs. Molina on the left wing – Will Julian Alvarez leave Atletico or remain the face of the project?
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And more.
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Mar 18, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets forward Chaney Johnson (31) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After his season-high 26-point performance, it’s easy to focus on the offensive side of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain.
Heading into Saturday’s road matchup with the Washington Wizards, however, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault is focusing more on the defensive side of McCain’s game since he was acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I don’t know how much he’s developed but he’s definitely integrated well. He’s learning his teammates, he’s learning our system, the fundamentals that we emphasize,” Daigneault said. “… He’s done a really good job of committing to our fundamentals and the things that we need to do on the defensive end of the floor.
“Obviously he’s a very potent offensive player, but he gives up some size and needs to be really fundamental and feisty (defensively) and he’s done that, especially lately.”
The Thunder are 15-3 since acquiring McCain after going 11-7 in their 18 games prior to the trade.
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McCain has been particularly important to Oklahoma City during the absence of Jalen Williams, who along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the Thunder’s primary ballhandlers.
Williams hasn’t played since Feb. 11 as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
Oklahoma City (55-15) comes into the Saturday game on a 10-game winning streak and is working to hold off San Antonio for the top seed in the Western Conference.
The Thunder come into the contest with the Wizards three games ahead of the Spurs.
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The Saturday game is the last of two between the Wizards and Thunder this season.
Oklahoma City won the first meeting by 19 on Oct. 30 in the third of what became a 14-game losing streak for the Wizards.
Washington is once again on a 14-game losing streak, with their last win coming Feb. 20. The Wizards have lost by an average of nearly 15 points per game during the streak.
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The Thunder lead the NBA in net rating, outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions, while the Wizards are last at minus-11.1.
Oklahoma City is holding opponents to a league-low 43.4% from the field.
In the earlier meeting, the Thunder scored 26 points on Washington’s 23 turnovers while Oklahoma City turned the ball over just six times for five Wizards’ points.
In Thursday’s 117-95 loss to Detroit, the Pistons scored 23 points on Washington’s 19 turnovers for a plus-10 advantage off turnovers.
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Much like Daigneault when talking about McCain, Wizards coach Brian Keefe has been pleased with the recent defensive growth from third-year reserve center Tristan Vukcevic, who has had the two best offensive games of his career over the past four games.
“He’s one of the better bigs in the league in terms of disruptions — disrupting the ball, getting his hands on things,” Keefe said.
The Wizards remain short-handed, with Anthony Davis still yet to make his D.C. debut after not playing since early January. Additionally, Trae Young has missed the last two games with a quadriceps contusion and has played in just five since being acquired from Atlanta in February.
In an update Friday, the Wizards announced Davis continues to progress, but that he would remain out at least until being evaluated later in the month. On Saturday, the team said Young has a right quadriceps contusion and lower back irritation and the “injuries are being treated conservatively.”
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The Wizards said Young will not require surgery but gave no timeline for his return to the court.
The 11-seed Texas Longhorns face the 3-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament West Region on Saturday. Texas advanced by upsetting BYU 79-71 in the first round on Thursday, while Gonzaga downed Kennesaw State 73-64. The Longhorns (20-14), who placed 10th in the SEC at 9-9, are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Bulldogs (23-3), who finished first in the WCC standings at 16-2, are 12-1 against non-conference opponents this season.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks.
After 10,000 simulations of Texas vs. Gonzaga, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (147.5 points). The total has gone over in four of the Longhorns’ last five games played on a Saturday. The Over has also hit in the last four games played between these two schools. The Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS against the Longhorns in the last five matchups.
The model projects the Longhorns to have four players score 14 or more points, including Dailyn Swain, who is projected to score 17.6 points. The Bulldogs are projected to have two players score 13 or more points, led by Graham Ike, who is projected to score 22.2 points. The model is projecting 156 combined points, as the Over clears 74% of the time. You can get the spread pick at SportsLine.
How to make Texas vs. Gonzaga picks
Now, the model simulated every possession of Texas vs. Gonzaga 10,000 times and says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.
Alexander Volkanovski’s next featherweight title challenger could be determined Saturday when unbeaten 145-pound contender Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy headline a UFC Fight Night event in London, England.
Arne Slot accepted that Liverpool have dropped too many points in the Premier League after playing in the Champions League as they suffered another blow to their hopes of finishing in the top-five with defeat at Brighton.
Danny Welbeck’s double earned Brighton a deserved victory over Slot’s side, who became the first reigning Premier League champions to lose 10 games in a season since Chelsea in 2017-18.
The Reds have lost five games of their 10 games immediately after playing in Europe this season, winning four and drawing one, as they failed to back up Wednesday’s big win over Galatasaray to reach the quarter-finals.
Already without Mohamed Salah and goalkeeper Alisson to injuries, Liverpool lost Hugo Ekitike to a dead leg following a heavy collision with James Milner in the opening five minutes and they were outworked by an energetic Brighton team who were fully deserving of their fourth win in five games.
“It is clear that we have lost a lot of points after playing in Europe,” Slot told TNT Sports. “I have tried to explain a lot of times already why this is but today we also have to give credit to Brighton. In the second half, they were the better team on the pitch.
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“What I thought [before the game], is you won’t need 24 points to qualify [from the final eight games of the season] and hopefully I am right because we aren’t able to get 24 points anymore.
“We kept trying. In the second half we were close but they were closer to score the third one than we were the second one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough after a week like this.”
Slot said losing Ekitike so early in the game was a “big blow” and Liverpool will be desperate to get as many players as possible back fit after the international break for the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, which will be followed by the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
But Liverpool also risk slipping from the Premier League’s top five after a run of three games without a win. While the impressive nature of Liverpool’s win over Galatasaray had lifted the mood following the defeat at bottom club Wolves and 1-1 draw with struggling Tottenham, there is pressure on Slot again ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.
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Brighton, inspired by Danny Welbeck’s double, were deserved winners (AP)
“There is always pressure at Liverpool, on me, on the players,” Slot said. “That is completely normal. We have qualified for the quarter finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League, but in the league we need to make sure that in the end we qualify for the Champions League.
“As much as I dislike us losing here today, Brighton away has always been a difficult one and will always be a difficult one as long as they keep bringing in so many good players.
“But there are other games where we should have picked up more points, like last week against Tottenham. That is far more unacceptable than this. But even away at Brighton, a club like Liverpool should be able to get a result.”
The intensity of Brighton’s display stood in contrast to Liverpool’s lethargic showing, with Steven Gerrard questioning why Slot did not make more changes to freshen up his side. The former captain said Liverpool’s performance felt predictable.
Liverpool have only picked up 13 points from a possible 30 after playing Champions League in midweek (Reuters)
“The performance wasn’t good enough, but you can almost feel that this performance and this result was coming,” Gerrard told TNT Sports.
“Liverpool get a couple of injuries to key players like Salah, Allison, on the back of midweek, the manager speaking about maybe the lack of energy they might have, and then you look at Brighton’s plans to come and try and play a game with that intensity and that speed, that energy.
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“We’ve seen it quite a few times this season now, where they put in a lot of effort and they perform really well in the Champions League. “There’s all the emotion and all the energy and the intensity they have to put in to win those or get a result.
“It’s having a big effect on them at the weekend. They haven’t got the options in the squad or on the bench to make numerous changes, to bring that energy and that quality into the team to perform at the same level they do in midweek.
“Liverpool made a couple of changes that were forced on them, but the manager wanted to keep the team rather than make changes for energy, and it backfired today. Brighton deserved the win overall, and a big opportunity missed for Liverpool.”
Such variables give a tactical obsessive like Mikel Arteta a lot to think about, but he is at least sure of his own structure. That won’t shift. The main question will be over personnel, and how much that changes the emphasis of the team; whether it’s Riccardo Calafiori or Piero Hincapie at left-back, for example. Martin Odegaard is expected to return to the bench, and Jurrien Timber may start.
The winner of the Carabao Cup final could also land a psychological blow in the title race (Action Images/Reuters)
Arsenal, in short, have a lot less to think about. That is very different to when the two sides qualified for this final, way back at the start of February. At that point, the trophy was seen as psychologically crucial to Arsenal sustaining both momentum and the idea of superiority over City, a key part of the wider pursuit for the first Premier League title in 22 years. The weight was all the greater since it had looked like this final could be the first in a grand and unprecedented English series, maybe four or five matches to decide everything.
The very week before the final has put paid to that. City have already been eliminated from the Champions League in that match against Madrid, which followed a frustrated 1-1 draw at West Ham to allow Arsenal an even greater gap in the title race.
Their hopes in the Premier League haven’t gone yet, but their aura has. The old City sense of foreboding isn’t there.
This Arsenal team may badly need to win their first trophy together, but it doesn’t quite feel as essential when this City don’t look like the trophy machine of before.
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As such, there’s been a twist before the game starts. It now feels like this Carabao Cup final is bigger for City than it is for Arsenal.
That would have sounded absurd for most of the season – and the past few years – especially with how Guardiola has repeatedly subjected his former assistant to second places, but that’s how this season is going. The fact everyone is talking about this being the City manager’s last season, which the club still describe as “speculation”, only adds to that. Guardiola certainly won’t want to leave on a barren campaign, in any case.
Winning a fourth Carabao Cup for the coach and a historic ninth for City would be valuable in and of itself, but more significant is what it might do for everything else. It would be a reminder to Arsenal of what the order has been. It would put the league leaders back in their box, after a period when City haven’t even beaten Arteta’s side in three years.
Arsenal have the psychological momentum after City were knocked out of the Champions League and dropped points in the title race (PA Wire)
Maybe most crucial of all, however, is that it would create new doubt for Arsenal just at the point when confidence is building; when Max Dowman seems to have helped banish all the angst. Talk of the quadruple is tentatively rising. This could swiftly end that, but do more. If the six-year wait for silverware were to go on that bit longer, into at least May, it creates greater space for collapse.
This is nevertheless the prospect facing City, too. To see two trophies disappear in two matches, alongside the increasing distance to top spot, could be debilitating. From that, if City were to lose on Sunday, it isn’t impossible that they could fall apart.
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Duly, City have constantly looked a team on a thin line on the actual pitch. It is like almost every game can go either way. There are spells when spectacular attacking is suggested, only for a defensive fallibility to immediately be exposed. City often sublime and ridiculous in the same five minutes of football, as was seen against Madrid.
Much will depend on the mood going into this game, which is said to be one of focus and trying to remind everyone of the force that this team has been. Down at Arsenal’s Colney base, a mere 13 miles from Wembley, a first final since the 2020 FA Cup win is being downplayed. There is a calmness, which many say has been welcome. This season has been characterised by ramping up most of the matches, after all. Perhaps a softening mood is also natural, given this is a break from all the noise around the title.
Arsenal have a tried and tested blueprint, whereas Guardiola may tinker with his formation yet again (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The greater gap in the league, of course, helps that, especially as Arsenal now know they will be nine points ahead of City until 12 April at the earliest. It was why last weekend was so crucial. Of course, this weekend might end up being seen as even more crucial, depending on how it goes.
Arsenal right now feel good about the title race, but that can dramatically change if their main chasers beat them, to once more shift that momentum. Out of that, this is yet another Carabao Cup final that is cast as being about more than the Carabao Cup, as so many are. It is about what it can mean for the future.
That’s partly why Newcastle United’s win last year was so distinctive, since it was about the trophy alone. You arguably have to go back to Swansea City in 2013 for similar.
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Consequently, as regards Arsenal, you don’t really need to read the same old lines about how Chelsea’s 2005 victory invigorated the Jose Mourinho era, or Brian Clough’s quote about how the Anglo-Scottish Cup gave his great Nottingham Forest team “a shot of something positive that only a trophy, whatever it is, can bring”. The times are different. The situation is different.
Pep Guardiola will have the opportunity to become the most successful manager in League Cup history when Man City face Arsenal at Wembley (Getty Images)
This is nevertheless the first League Cup final involving both of the top two since 1978, and a meeting between Liverpool and that Forest team. Clough’s side won to eventually complete a League Cup and title double.
That season was the first time the feat was managed, and both City and Arsenal are hoping to make this the 12th. City have already managed it four times, with Guardiola responsible for three of those.
As befits the occasion in the modern era, however, both sides are also going for more. City are aiming for a domestic treble. Arsenal are going for the quadruple. The League Cup has never had so much on the line, which marks quite a shift. The final itself may well mark another.
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