We go looking to lift the League Cup for the third time in our history at Wembley on Sunday (4.30pm UK) when we face Manchester City under the arch, and secure our first piece of silverware of what could be a memorable campaign.
Having knocked out Port Vale, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Chelsea to reach our first cup final since 2020, Mikel Arteta has the chance to become the first Gunners boss to win both of his two major finals with us, against a side that he has managed to remain unbeaten against in our last six meetings in all competitions.
Despite their midweek European exit, City still harbour hopes of clinching all three domestic trophies, but know we loom large in all of those pursuits. As with any cup final, history will be made, but in this particular one, the victor will hope a first taste of silverware this term will be the catalyst for more later in 2025/26.
CITY EYE NUMBER NINE
For the first time ever, the top two teams in England’s top-flight on the day will contest the League Cup final, and Guardiola will be hoping to strike a psychological blow as he attempts to chase us down at the Premier League summit, with our league encounter coming just 28 days after our Wembley meeting.
City beat Huddersfield Town, Swansea City, Brentford and Newcastle United by two-goal margins in every tie as they seek a ninth triumph in this competition, and a fifth under the acclaimed Spaniard’s management, which would see him become the League Cup’s most decorated manager.
However, after exiting the Champions League in midweek 5-1 to Real Madrid, Guardiola’s team limp into the showpiece having won just one of their last five. They have also lost their last two major finals, a 2024 Manchester derby in the FA Cup, and then last season’s equivalent when Ebere Eze struck the winning goal for Crystal Palace.
Read more Round by round: Our road to the Carabao Cup final
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Arteta: “It’s one of the defining moments because at the end, it’s whether you win the trophy or not - and that’s the most important thing once you get to the final. But in order to be there, you have to do a lot of things and earn a lot of things as the team has done so far.
“One of the best memories I have as a player is playing those types of games. That’s why we’re all very excited, because we know what’s at stake. We really want it and we know what it’s going to mean for our people as well.”
Read more Every word from Arteta's Carabao Cup final presser
Guardiola: “We have got to Wembley 22 times in 10 years, it’s an honour and a big challenge. For the team it’s a big moment. When we reach the final, no matter the competition, it’s always tough.
“[Arsenal] are an exceptional team, it’s a big challenge for us to see our level. We see the level in Europe, other leagues and any competition. To be there, we have to see it as a big opportunity because we never know when it will happen again.”
TEAM NEWS
Mikel Arteta will continue to assess skipper Martin Odegaard before the final, who has missed the last six games with a knee problem, while Jurrien Timber came off early against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek with an ankle issue.
The boss will continue to see how things progress in training before Sunday before making a call on the duo, as well as who starts in goal after Kepa Arrizabalaga featured in all the previous rounds.
Guardiola meanwhile has confirmed that his keeper James Trafford will start at Wembley, having also played in every tie to this point.
Marc Guehi is cup-tied, having played for Crystal Palace against us in the quarter-finals before his January move, while Josko Gvardiol suffered a fractured leg back in January and is out long-term.
Read more Carabao Cup final ready: The best training snaps
TALKING TACTICS
Adrian Clarke: Guardiola has used an unusual 4-1-3-2 formation recently, stationing Rodri as a sole defensive midfielder, with Bernardo Silva in front, Nico O’Reilly to the left, and Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo or Phil Foden to the right. In attack, Erling Haaland has been partnered with either Semenyo or Omar Marmoush.
It is bold, fluid and adventurous, and a narrow shape that makes them very strong in central areas. However, with the bulk of their width now coming via full-backs, any loss of possession can leave their central defenders and Rodri exposed. That, as well as exploiting a high defensive line, could be fruitful for us.
Guardiola could revert to the pragmatic 4-5-1 he opted for at Emirates Stadium in September, when his team had just 33.2% possession. If they are more attack-minded, we may have to deal with a high press, as having improved the way they close opponents down, City have manufactured 52 shot-ending high turnovers, the most in the Premier League.
The Sky Blues have though leaked nine goals from 82 shots when defending set-pieces, and with deputy Trafford likely to start in goal, I am sure we will try to make the most of any potential uncertainty from dead balls.
Read more Carabao Cup final: Useful information for our fans
FACTS AND STATS
City have won eight of their nine League Cup finals, with only Liverpool winning the competition more often (10). The Citizens have triumphed in each of their last seven finals, since a loss to Wolves in 1974.
We have had eight different goalscorers in the League Cup this season (excluding own goals), with no Gunner netting more than once. We last had more different scorers in a single campaign in 1987/88 (9).
Manchester City beat us in the 2018 League Cup final. Only two teams have beaten us in two major cup finals before – Newcastle United (1932 FA Cup, 1952 FA Cup) and Leeds United (1968 League Cup, 1972 FA Cup).
Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last three games against us in all competitions. However, he’s never scored in six appearances for City at Wembley.
Rayan Cherki has been involved in four goals in his four League Cup appearances for City (3 goals, 1 assist), averaging a goal involvement once every 47 minutes in the competition.
Eberechi Eze could become the third player to score against an opponent in both a League Cup and an FA Cup final after Roberto Di Matteo (v Middlesbrough) and Didier Drogba (v Liverpool). He has either scored (2) or assisted (1) in each of his last three appearances against Man City.
Gabriel Martinelli has also either scored (1) or assisted (2) in each of his last three appearances against City.
Since joining City in 2019, Rodri has lost just one of his 14 appearances against us, which came in the FA Cup semi-final in 2019/20. Each of the last four times he’s faced us, the game has ended level.
Read more Quiz: Name our last 50 goalscorers at Wembley
MATCH OFFICIALS
Peter Bankes has been rewarded with his first major final, continuing to manage big Gunners games as he was the man in the middle for our north London derby victory last month. That was one of 10 victories from the 14 occasions the Merseysider has been appointed to our games, as were the semi-final second-leg win against Chelsea, and our 5-1 demolition of City back in February 2025.
The Mancunians have played 12 games under Bankes’ watch, winning just half of those and losing five others. The last defeat came back in August at home to Tottenham, but they have since beaten Leeds United home and away with the official present.
Referee: Peter BankesAssistants: Neil Davies, Steve MeredithFourth official: Tom BramallVAR: John BrooksAssistant VAR: Dan Robathan
WEMBLEY HISTORY WITH CITY
We have lost just one of our five meetings with Manchester City at Wembley, though that was in the 2018 League Cup final when Arteta was part of Guardiola’s backroom staff. Since then we have had the upper hand, with our last triumph under the arch coming in August 2023 when a very late Trossard goal forced a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, and Fabio Vieira netted the decisive penalty to win us the Community Shield.
We met at the semi-final stage of the FA Cup in July 2020, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice to seal a 2-0 win, after we had enjoyed a 2-1 win after extra-time at the national stadium at the same stage of the competition in 2016/17.
We also lifted the Community Shield in August 2014 via a 3-0 success at City's expense, with our captain Arteta climbing the famous steps to collect the silverware.
Read more Gunners look to extend impressive Wembley record
LIVE COVERAGE
Join us for a special edition of Live from N5, coming to you from Wembley 75 minutes before kick-off on Arsenal.com and our brand-new official app, The Arsenal.
Nicole Holliday and Jeremie Aliadiere lead the coverage as we bring you all the build-up from inside the national stadium, including the moment the team news drops and exclusive behind-the-scenes access as the squad arrives.
We’ll immerse you in the full Wembley experience, with Nigel Mitchell capturing the atmosphere around the ground while Frimmy checks in from our fanzone at BOXPARK. Pitchside, 1993 League Cup winners Steve Morrow, Nigel Winterburn and Tony Adams will share their insight, and expect a full look back at our road to Wembley.
There’s plenty more, with special guests Romesh Ranganathan, Sharky and Chunkz dropping by, recalling Wembley memories over the years. We’ll also hear from the squad as they reflect on the week’s build-up, before handing over to live commentary from Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke as the action gets underway.
You can also find out which broadcaster is showing the action live, wherever you are in the world.
Read more How to watch the Carabao Cup final live on TV
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.