Will Arsenal's momentum be disrupted by the loss to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final before a long international break?
Published March 24, 2026 • Source: bbc.com
By Gary Rose
The Premier League is on a break for almost three weeks as international football takes centre stage.
For some clubs, the pause in domestic action has come at the right time as they look to regroup, but for others it halts some much-needed momentum.
With the FA Cup quarter-finals next up in a fortnight, the next Premier League action won't be until 10 April.
BBC Sport takes a look at what a few weeks off could mean for clubs fighting for the title, trying to secure European football next season or battling against relegation.
With numerous players already dropping out of their country's international commitments over the next fortnight, does the break provide some much-needed relief or a break in momentum?
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A nervy wait for Arsenal - the fight for the title
Premier League leaders Arsenal head into the international break in a strong position as they sit nine points clear of second-place Manchester City, albeit having played a game more than Pep Guardiola's side.
But with their next league game not until 11 April when they host Bournemouth, it's a long time to stew on their League Cup final loss to City.
They are not completely without fixtures until then as they play Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on 4 April and then Sporting in the Champions League last eight on 7 April - but even almost two weeks is a long time to dwell.
"They were unbeaten in 14 so it's about how they react to this loss," former Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul said on BBC Radio 5 live.
"The nerves are clearly there because they've been that close [to winning the Premier League] in the past few years.
"If they just keep their cool in the next few weeks - how the club reacts is going to be so important.
"They've still got City away in April and that game is going to be huge for the title."
For Manchester City's players, it probably presents a different problem in that they will be itching to keep their momentum going.
"It is a blow for them and we need to build on it and get some momentum from this win now," said Nico O'Reilly, who scored both of City's goals in the League Cup final.
"As soon as the international break is over, we need to kick on and fight hard.
"Who knows [whether it will dent Arsenal's momentum], I don't know how they are feeling. Obviously they will be upset they haven't won a trophy."
A chance to refresh and reset? The battle for the Champions League
Behind the two title-chasers is the race to secure European football for next season.
The two clubs with most to mull over after seeing their top-four hopes dealt a blow are Liverpool and Chelsea.
Arne Slot's side have put up a disappointing title defence this term and even their bid to finish in the Champions League places is faltering, having lost two and drawn one of their three games prior to this international break.
Liverpool's defeat to Brighton on Saturday means they will spend the next few weeks sitting fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Chelsea, a point further back, are devoid of momentum after four successive losses in all competitions.
Blues boss Liam Rosenior sees this international break as an opportunity to refresh and reset.
âI think the international break has come at a good time for us,â Rosenior said after the 3-0 loss to Everton on Saturday.
âHopefully, the players get a change. Most of them have to fly across the world and represent their countries, but maybe a reset, maybe some time away to regather their thoughts, may refresh the group."
The good news for these two faltering sides is fifth is on course to be enough once again to secure Champions League football for next season.
Fighting for other European football
Finishing in the top seven should be enough to secure some form of European football next season.
Brentford, currently seventh, and Everton, eighth, are the best placed of the chasing pack to finish inside the top seven.
The Bees have perhaps surpassed expectations this season, and went into the international break on the back of just one defeat in their last six games.
They had, however, won just one game as well in that run, meaning the break could have come at a good time to recharge.
After such a comprehensive 3-0 win against Chelsea at the weekend, Everton may feel the break is a disrupting factor to their momentum.
Tenth-placed Brighton's win against Liverpool will boost their confidence heading into the latter stages of the season, while Sunderland's dramatic win against Newcastle not just gives them the derby bragging rights to enjoy for the next couple of weeks, but also puts them ahead of their rivals in the race for Europe.
The Black Cats are 11th on 43 points, one point and one place ahead of Newcastle.
It will feel a long break for Newcastle fans though as they have no chance of rebounding quickly from that derby day misery and Champions League thumping by Barcelona.
Bournemouth, four points off seventh, are still in the fight and their 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend means they head into the international break on an 11-game unbeaten run.
The relegation battle
This looks like being the most fascinating fight in the latter part of the season.
Tottenham have had a torrid campaign but just appeared to be building some momentum with promising performances and results against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid before Sunday's hugely damaging 3-0 home loss to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham are the only side in the Premier League without a league win this year and only three sides in the competition's history have had a longer run without a win - and all three were relegated.
The momentum is certainly not there for them heading into this break and leaves the club with a big decision to make over boss Igor Tudor. Perhaps a few weeks away from matches is just what they need to plan their route to survival.
"The worrying thing for Spurs is the impact of this after a week in which they had some hope and a bit of belief," former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy said on Match of the Day.
"At home they have conceded 28 goals, only Wolves have conceded more. This is collectively poor and the manager is in a precarious position."
In contrast Forest will be bouncing after such an emphatic win that moved them three points clear of relegation. But would they want to keep that momentum going with another match?
West Ham, however, had their momentum halted by a 2-0 loss at Aston Villa on Sunday.
It will have been a particularly frustrating blow as they had the chance to move out of the relegation zone with a win but will now spend the next few weeks in it.
"It is not good to go into the international break with this feeling," Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo said.
"It is realising that we must do better. We have a lot of work to do. We didn't play well, we have to react, do things better, and we are in the fight.
"It is a moment to reflect and realise we have to do much better."