Arsenal have clear Chelsea and Man City blueprint to boost Premier League title push

Arsenal begin their Carabao Cup campaign on Wednesday with a home tie against League One side Bolton.

Mikel Arteta is likely to field a second-string team with plenty of young debutants. 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter is one of those likely to be involved at the Emirates Stadium with David Raya an injury doubt and Neto cup-tied.

The Gunners have other priorities with Premier League glory their main objective this season. Arsenal will also have one eye on Europe as they look to win their first-ever Champions League title.

But the Carabao Cup could provide a bigger boost to Arsenal's title ambitions than many realise. Whilst winning the League Cup won't be what this season is judged on for Arteta, it could provide a solid foundation towards lifting a first league title since 2004.

Chelsea under Jose Mourinho did exactly that when they lifted the 2005 League Cup before winning the Premier League in dominant fashion. The same scenario developed in Mourinho's second spell at Stamford Bridge a decade later when the Blues beat Tottenham at Wembley in March 2015 before easing to another league title.

Pep Guardiola has seen the same trick work at Manchester City. The Catalan's first trophy at the Etihad was the 2018 League Cup before his team lifted the league title just months later. City did the same thing in 2019 and 2021 as well.

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Arsenal must now look towards matching Chelsea and City's blueprint when it comes to Premier League success. The Gunners' last trophy came in the 2020 FA Cup when Arteta had a vastly different squad to the one he currently has.

Winning trophies can breed success and that won't be achieved by just a few good results in the league. Arsenal need that winning feeling again and the League Cup offers them the perfect opportunity to do so.

Guardiola's words on Wednesday about City "not wasting energy" on the competition should offer some encouragement to the Gunners. If Arsenal's main title rivals get knocked out early it should offer an excellent chance to end their trophy drought and propel them to a league title as well.