Arsenal lock horns with Premier League title rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday
16:11, 19 Mar 2026
Mikel Arteta
View 2 Images
Mikel Arteta is hoping to win his second trophy as Arsenal boss this weekend
Mikel Arteta is facing plenty of big calls when he decides his Arsenal starting XI for this weekend's crunch Carabao Cup final.
The Spaniard is bidding to win his second piece of silverware as Gunners head coach on Sunday after lifting the FA Cup in his debut season (2019-20).
There's hope glory at Wembley could be the first of a number of trophies this term but given the strength of the opposition, victory is unlikely to come easy.
Theoretically, you can only say five of his 11 starters have already been decided, provided there is no late injury news.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will start at the heart of defence, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will look to control the midfield and Bukayo Saka will feature in attack.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Outside of that, Arteta is facing several huge decisions, not least between the sticks. Second-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has started every match so far in the competition but perhaps there's an argument that David Raya should get the nod.
Kepa played a big role in the elimination of Crystal Palace and was the hero in the shootout but incredibly, he's lost all five of the domestic cup finals he was involved in with Chelsea.
He missed the decisive penalty during the shootout defeat to Liverpool in 2022 and famously refused to leave the field when Maurizio Sarri tried to substitute him in the 2019 final against Manchester City.
At right-back, there's still hope that Jurrien Timber will be able to shake off his recent injury to start but if not, Ben White and Cristian Mosquera are candidates to fill the void.
Jurrien Timber
View 2 Images
Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber is facing a race against the clock to prove his fitness for the Carabao Cup final(Image: Getty Images)
At left-back, Piero Hincapie has been ahead of Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order but Calafiori has performed well in recent matches and has history against City after netting a rocket at the Etihad Stadium in 2024.
Eberechi Eze should start in midfield but there's a chance Kai Havertz could also enter Arteta's thinking as the No.10 or alternatively, the German could start ahead of Viktor Gyokeres in attack.
Then there is fierce competition for places at left-wing where Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are all candidates to feature.
Whatever starting XI Arteta selects, what's clear is he has a very competitive squad that is stacked with top-quality options.
Article continues below
Welcome to 'Seeing Red' - our new Arsenal podcast
We've launched a new Arsenal podcast 'Seeing Red' with chief football writer John Cross and Arsenal reporter Tom Canton.
Each week, they will dive deep into the biggest topics as they follow Mikel Arteta's side every step of the way - and will also discuss nostalgic flashbacks before each fixture.
It's a great time to be an Arsenal fan, with the Gunners flying high under Arteta as they look to win silverware this season.
The North Londoners are going strong in the Premier League and Champions League - and they're also in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
We'll provide insight and reaction - and have fun along the way - as Arsenal target the biggest trophies this season.
No stone will be left unturned. VAR controversy? Poor performances? Unsung hero who deserves praise? Fixture chaos? We'll have it all covered.
Click here to view our YouTube channel
Click here to download our podcasts