Man City face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final next monthplaceholder image
Man City face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final next month | Getty Images
Manchester City will face Arsenal FC in the Carabao Cup final next month and there is some very early team news.
City booked their latest Wembley trip with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle after a 3-1 win in the semi-final second-leg on Wednesday night. Guardiola made six changes to his starting line up for the clash, with James Trafford handed a rare start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Although the match was dominated by City's attacking talent as Omar Marmoush bagged a brace and Tijani Reijnders shone in an attacking midfield role, Trafford also played a key role with some fine saves throughout. The 23-year-old reacted well to deny both Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon and is set to be rewarded with a start at Wembley in March.
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Trafford set for Carabao Cup final start
James Trafford joined Man City with the belief he would become their new first-choice goalkeeper when he completed a £27 million from Burnley in the summer. Trafford started the first three matches of the Premier League season but was immediately replaced when City jumped at the chance to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.
Since then, Trafford has been limited to occasional starts in the cup competitions, with four in the League Cup and one appearance in both the FA Cup and Champions League. The 23-year-old should get another chance to sign when City host Salford in the FA Cup fourth round next week, but after that, his next appearance might be under the Wembley arch next month.
“I said from the beginning James is a top player, a top-class ‘keeper, so he’s got an incredible future ahead of him. The position of ‘keeper is special because of course he has to play,” Guardiola said on Wednesday night. Some players like Nico O’Reilly can play left-back, attacking midfielder, in the pockets, holding midfielder but the ‘keeper has to play ‘keeper and there is just one of course.
“He’s an extraordinary ‘keeper and I’m really pleased. With the final, he’s going to play the first final of Carabao Cup for him and in FA Cup of course everything can happen."
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