With both the Gunners and the Blues likely to field completely different sides from the respective starting XIs at the weekend, Clichy is hoping City’s strength in-depth will be decisive.
“We shouldn’t think that we will win the game easily just because they will play a young team,” said the France international.
“They have emerging talent, but this is a quarter final so we have to make sure that we go there and win – it’s a long time since Arsenal lost to City at home so this is a good opportunity.
“But whatever team we face, it will be difficult. I remember nine years ago Arsene Wenger played the young players in every round and they went right through to the semi-finals.
“They will be near the top at the end of the season and have recovered well from a difficult start.
“They had everything against them at the start of the season, red cards, injuries, own goals and I always said they should keep going because they have too much quality to struggle indefinitely.”
With Roberto Mancini threatening to play an inexperienced side at the Emirates due to the fact City played just 48 hours earlier, Clichy is unlikely to start on this occasion.
If called upon, however, the in-form left-back is more than happy to play.
“Whether I’m involved or not is up to the manager and I have to accept his decision,” he said.
I’m ready and if I’m needed, I will be more than happy to play. Arsenal is a great club and a great team and I have many friends still there
...Gael Clichy
“If I could be involved it would be something that I’d really look forward to.”
A typically modest Clichy believes the Gunners fans were more upset by other departures from the club last summer than his and is hoping there is no bad feeling if he does feature in the game.
“I really hope the fans have memories of me as a player who always gave 100%,” he said. “I think they’ll be sadder at losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri than Gael Clichy.
“But it should be fun going back there and if we can move on into the semi-finals, so much the better.”
