Manchester City will continue to fight on four fronts after victory over Oxford earned Pep Guardiola’s side passage to the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the third successive season. City had to battle for the win and are digging their heels in over Mikel Arteta, the assistant coach who is expected to be appointed Arsenal’s next manager. Arteta travelled to Oxford and was on the bench here but City are furious with Arsenal’s conduct, insisting the club have made no formal approach for the Spaniard. City, who have won this competition for the past two years, dominated for large spells but Oxford made them sweat in the second half as Guardiola’s experimental side held on.Raheem Sterling, who operated as a striker here as Guardiola rested several players, displayed a poacher’s instinct, twice applying the finishing touches inside the six-yard box after Oxford cancelled out João Cancelo’s opener immediately after the restart through their striker Matty Taylor. Oxford almost made things interesting late on but City, who have not lost in this competition since defeat to Manchester United in October 2016, held on for victory. Related: Firmino’s last-gasp winner sends Liverpool into Club World Cup final Continue readingreadfullarticle
