Arsenal’s pursuit of the quadruple continues on Sunday afternoon, as Mikel Arteta’s side take on Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the Carabao Cup final.
The Gunners swept Bayer Leverkusen aside in midweek, cruising past Kasper Hjulmand’s side to progress into the last eight of the Champions League. Eberechi Eze’s stunning long-range effort opened the scoring in the first half, before Declan Rice sealed the victory with a controlled finish in the second period.
The North Londoners now have an opportunity to get their hands on a piece of silverware, something they haven’t done since 2020, when they face City this weekend. Victory over Pep Guardiola’s side could set the tone for the rest of the season and prove to be the catalyst that leads to a multi-trophy-winning campaign for Arteta and his squad.
City will be without Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol for the final, with the former cup-tied and the latter out injured. These absences should boost Arsenal’s chances of coming out on top, while the Citizens’ poor run of form means the Gunners come into this tie with confidence and momentum.
Arteta has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his team’s credentials in this final, none more so than his team’s recent record against City. The Gunners haven’t lost to their north-west rivals since their infamous 4-1 defeat at the Etihad during the run-in of the 2022/23 season.
| Date | Result | Competition |
| 21/09/2025 | Arsenal 1-1 City | Premier League |
| 02/02/2025 | Arsenal 5-1 City | Premier League |
| 22/09/2024 | City 2-2 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 31/03/2024 | City 0-0 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 08/10/2023 | Arsenal 1-0 City | Premier League |
| 06/08/2023 | City 1-1 Arsenal | Community Shield |
| 26/04/2023 | City 4-1 Arsenal | Premier League |
Confirmed Arsenal XI vs Man City
Arteta has had a number of contentious team selection decisions to make ahead of this game. Perhaps the most controversial decision has been who he will opt for to start in between the sticks.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has lost all five cup finals he’s been a part of in his career, but the Spaniard has been trusted by his compatriot.
The manager also faced a selection headache in both full-back positions. With Timber not passing as fit, he’s shown faith in Ben White by starting him at right-back.
At left-back, Piero Hincapie has done enough to retain his place, although Riccardo Calafiori offers more offensively and may be called upon to provide the Gunners with more value in possession. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will start at the heart of Arsenal’s back four.
Midfield is arguably the most straightforward area for Arteta in his team selection at the moment. With Odegaard and Merino out, the divisive tactician had little option but to deploy Martin Zubimendi alongside Declan Rice. Kai Havertz is set to start in front of his trusted midfield duo.
As for his forward line, there were a few question marks. Kai Havertz is fit and there was wonder whether he’d be favoured over Viktor Gyokeres, who has struggled against the better sides this term. The Swede is starting up top and Havertz is set to play in the No.10 role.
Off the left, Leandro Trossard has retained his place and Bukayo Saka will operate on the opposite flank.
Confirmed Arsenal lineup vs Manchester City: Kepa; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Arsenal vs Man City Prediction
City have looked extremely vulnerable in second halves this season, and this could be where the game is won and lost on Sunday. If Arsenal can weather the early storm from the Citizens, then they should be in a strong position to attack Guardiola’s team as the second half wears on.
Rodri is a shadow of his former self and is generally susceptible to fading physically in the latter stages. The Spaniard’s declining athletic attributes are a huge component of City’s second-half fall-offs, and Arsenal can exploit this.
The Gunners need to start with a highly technical side, and then use their bench to power up physically late on. The likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli can make a major impact off the bench, and this is likely when Arteta’s team will ultimately win the trophy.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
