And finally, here’s Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports
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It’s painful when you get to a final and you have that will to win a first title after eight months. It’s always tough.
The game had moments in the first half when we were very good and had the best chance to make it 1-0 and then the game would have been very different.
In the second half, first 15, 20 minutes, we had problems, sitting too deep and giving the ball away on too many occasions. They had two shots and scored two goals. That’s the level as well.
There were two different halves. The first was very positive and the second was a different one but you have to deal with the opposition and the level they have. It is not a coincidence what they’ve achieved in the past 10 years.
We were imprecise and handed them opportunities. When we regained the ball we gave it back and they’re really good at [creating from deep]. They scored the first out of nothing and the second three minutes after.
[Regrets about picking Kepa?] I would do it again. He deserved to play. Errors are part of football and anyone can make them.
We had a great, incredible eight months together and [today] is a part of football. We have to work, improve and use the fire in the belly we have at the moment to have an amazing last two months of the season.
Pep Guardiola speaks to Sky Sports
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What can I say? When you win a trophy it’s always important [but] this is special because we had a tough two weeks. And the opponent was the strongest one. What they have done in the Champions League is incredible. The first 15 minutes they suffocated us and we could not breathe.
Then we began to win some second balls and especially Jérémy [Doku] and Rayan [Cherki] in the second half. I’m really, really pleased.
A team like this [Arsenal], almost unbeatable. I am so happy to have a fifth Carabao Cup in 10 years. Not bad.
Every time you win a title it looks more difficult than in the past. It’s complicated for so many reasons, number of games, quality of the opposition, it’s so difficult. The guys behaved unbelievably.
I need to know them [the new players]. It will be a good learning for this team and hopefully next season we can do better.
We are not a team like Arsenal are or we were in the past [in terms of title race]. We always used to find a way to win titles. For a new generation to learn how to do that is very important. I would love to be nine points in front to be honest. It’s in their hands.
I need personally a break. I am exhausted. And after that, step by step. Dropping points at West Ham hurt us a lot. But we’ll try. They are coming to the Etihad in front of our people.
Today our fans were amazing. All Manchester was here. So happy and for the people we will try.
Bernardo Silva speaks to Sky Sports
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James Trafford was amazing for us and in the second half we tried to go for ait a bit more. We felt that they lots a bit of energy and we had to go [harder] at them again.
Nico O’Reilly is so good at arriving in the box. We were lucky enough to score the first one and when we are on top we have always been a team that can find spaces. For us it was a very good performance.
In a final, you know both teams will have momentum. Arsenal’s was in the first 10-15 minutes. Those moments you try to fight together and make it as small as possible. And when the momentum [changes] you have to make it as big as possible. That’s what we tried to do with Jérémy and Semenyo on the wings, O’Reilly arriving in the box and Cherki’s magic.
I try to help the team as much as possible. I know the way the manager wants to play and I know the standards we have set as a club. I always try my best and I’m really happy and proud of the boys.
City toast their victory in Carabao fizz
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After a spot of Trumpian trophy-hogging
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Sir Charles Carabao hands over the League Cup to Bernardo Silva. And each member of the squad has his turn at lifting it while they sing Championes.
Arsenal’s players graciously watch on and applaud. They will hope that the sight motivates them too to get the job done in the Premier League.
Two sides of the coin at the final whistle
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Nico O’Reilly speaks to Sky Sports
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A good feeling and a great birthday weekend. My whole family came down, they’re in the stand. I know they’ll be buzzing. I always played midfield and always arrived in the box to score goals. To bring that into the senior level, the highest level, it’s a great feeling. Can’t wait [to pick up the trophy].
City deserved their victory
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Although they were give a helping hand by Kepa’s error, they weren’t at the races in the second half, seemingly lacking belief.
Full time: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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City win their ninth League Cup and Pep is celebrating like it’s his first. It’s his fifth, a record.
90+3 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Blue Moon echoes around the emptying stadium as thousands of Arsenal fans stream out.
90+2 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Nico O’Reilly has been named man of the match. Peter Drury makes some laboured quip about his 0161 tattoo and ‘dialling’ it in today. Quite the opposite of dialling it in, I’d have thought.
Rodri has been monstrously good in this second half. Shutting down every Arsenal attack, reading every forward pass. Rice and Zubimendi have been taught a lesson in this second half.
90+1 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Foden → Cherki.
Doku tries to chip it long for Haaland to break between Saliba and Gabriel but the two centre-backs do their job.
90 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Doku floods into open space down the inside-left channel, keeps going as Arsenal retreat then hooks a shot wide.
Four minutes of stoppage time to come.
Been so unimpressed with Arsenal. They have offered so little going forward and at 2-0 down just looked out of any ideas of how to break City down. Lots of very tidy performances among the City ranks. Nunes and Semenyo have dovetailed well down the right, Rodri and Bernardo in the middle. Cherki has done a really good job ahead of him. Arsenal just haven’t been able to get at City’s defence.
89 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Still no City changes. VAR is given some work to do when Gyokeres goes down in the City penalty area with Rodri holding him after Jesus’s header skimmed the bar. But nothing changes.
87 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Jesus beats a man then passes straight to a blue shirt as he used to do then Rodri give sthe ball away just as cheaply and thanks Matheus Nunes for bailing him out by outrunning Gyokeres.
85 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Some Arsenal fans have had enough and start to leave. What a damp squib they have been in this half.
84 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Martinelli’s first attempt to stretch his legs with a run down the whitewash comes unstuck when he knocks the ball out. Moments earlier Rodri had turned and rolled a pass into touch uncharacteristically carelessly, too.
82 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Martinelli → Trossard
Jesus → White.
Rice moves to right-back.
80 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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City are starting to try to control the clock but they will know that Arsenal’s unravelling came when they lost all momentum, deliberately it seems, and started to hang on to the ball too long in an excess of caution at 0-0.
78 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Calafiori’s raking volley from the right of the box as he belted Trossard’s flick-on just eludes Trossard’s lunge and clips the outside of the right post.
76 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Some disquiet in the crowd that Arteta has not yet turned to Martinelly, Dowman and Gabriel Jesus. They continue to warm up.
74 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Cherki drives down the right. He’s a mesmerising dribbler and beats Trossard, Rice and Calafiori before squaring it just behind Haaland who had bust a gut to get into the box.
72 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Guardiola is exasperated because City have given Arsenal and Rice the opportunity to cause havoc with his set-piece delivery after a careless foul, 23 yards out. Rice bends the free-kick expertly towards the near post and Calafiori rises to meet and glances it… straight down Trafford’s throat.
70 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Cherki starts showboating by playing keepie-uppie in front of White who boots him up in the air. Guardiola looks as though he agrees with White.
Lately, it has been rare to see Pep Guardiola so ecstatically happy. In response to Nico O’Reilly’s first goal, he kicks the hoardings behind the technical area for joy. After the second, he plays conductor to the crowd, whipping them up into an even greater frenzy. It is no more than City deserve, with their attack relentless in this second half so far and Arsenal chasing shadows. Mikel Arteta has won all eight of his appearances at Wembley as player and manager. That record looks poised to be derailed.
68 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 2
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Guardiola celebrated like a man who has been haunted and suddenly felt the grace of exorcism. He booted a couple of things and roared, waving his arms, eraning himself another yellow card this calendar year.
Arsenal are the ones who look haunted now.
Calafiori → Hincapié
Madueke → Havertz.
GOAL!
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Arsenal 0 Man City 2 (O’Reilly) He’s done it again with his head. He stole in again round the back, blindsiding Saka after Doku’s calm pass across the 18-yard line was relayed on to Nunes by Rodri, slipping him in behind. The right-back stood up the perfect cross for the marauding left-back to meet.
GOAL!
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Arsenal 0 Man City 1 (O’Reilly) If you keep putting your shoulder to the door, it will eventually cave in. City have been pounding away all this half but even so wouldn’t have scored but for a Kepa mistake as he let Cherki’s right-foot cross from the right burst through his hands and O’Reilly crept round Zubimendi to nod the ball after it bounced up into goal from a couple of yards.
Arteta’s big selection decision was to pick Kepa over Raya, just as Guardiola picked Trafford over Donnarumma. It’s a call that has, clearly, backfired. There are many, many Arsenal supporters who will believe that Arteta should have simply picked his best goalkeeper for such a crucial match. It would be hard to argue with those fans now.
60 min: Arsenal 0 Man City
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Excellent work from Matheus Nunes to break the lines with a dip of the shoulder and a pass up to Haaland, perfectly into his stride as he stormed through the middle. Gabriel and Saliba tried to close the door by scissoring it shut in front of him and Saliba then pokes the ball away.
58 min: Arsenal 0 Man City
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Doku by far the most influential player of the half so far and has White on toast. Still no end product.
56 min: Arsenal 0 Man City
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Arsenal are under the cosh and seem to be the retreat as City keep coming in waves. Doku twice beats White and tries to put it on Haaland’s head at the back post only for Gabriel to get there first. Backs to the wall stuff for Arsenal and Semenyo ends this spell of pressure with a cross-shot hybrid as he cut in from the right on to his left that was no use to anyone.
54 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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O’Reilly, Doku and Haaland link up slickly on the left and allow Doku the chance to get to the byline. He pulls a daisycutter of a pass back towards the penalty spot but no one was close to it. All City now.
52 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Semenyo’s free-kick is wildly overhit and careers over everyone’s heads and out for a goal-kick.
52 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Kepa comes out of his box to try to stop a diagonal chip reaching Doku on the left. Beaten for pace and strength, Kepa wraps his arms around the winger and is booked. City wanted him to play on and see if Doku could pick out Haaland in the box in front of an open goal.
50 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Cherki bends a pass to Semenyo standing to the right of the D. He feeds it first time into Haaland who holds off Saliba to flick it through his legs but could only prod a toe-poke at the keeper as the ball ran away from him.
48 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Bernardo tries to reopen Arsenal’s weak spot with a pass down the right to give Semenyo the opportunity to run at Hincapié but overcooks it. Kepa wastes 42 seconds by standing with the ball at his feet before playing it.
46 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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No changes though in the punditry box, there were calls for Martinelli, Calafiori and Dowman. City kick off and slow the tempo right down.
Sir Keir Starmer watches his beloved Gunners
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Semenyo’s threat
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Not a thriller by any means but I think the second half will give us more. Semenyo has been a threat for City. Neither side giving much away.
Half-Time: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Enjoyable match with both sides enjoying spells of attacking dominance but not many chances. Trafford’s save to stop Havertz has probably been the closest either side has come to scoring.
45 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Semenyo flicks Cherki’s pass between his own legs to lose Trossard, pirouettes in the box, sprints to the byline and crosses deep. Haaland makes himself as big as he can to reach the ball and, his neck and torso extended to their limit, cannot control the header, plonking it on the roof of the net.
43 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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The corner is too high for Haaland at the back post but City keep the ball and keep probing away after Rice makes a mistake with a misplaced pass.
Arsenal have lost some of their momentum going forward but they have succeeded in keeping Cherki and Haaland very quiet so far. There’s no way through the middle for City. The central core of Saliba, Gabriel, Zubimendi and Rice is looking strong.
41 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Doku goes on a skittering run into the area from the left after great work between Cherki and Haaland to send him through. Saliba’s tackle takes the ball off him at the price of a corner.
39 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Couple of tentative attacks down the City right but Arsenal hold their lines even if they’re getting stuck in their final third.
37 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Twice in 90 seconds Bernardo fails with attempts to find Haaland in space with passes, the second interception triggering a counter-attack that leads to an Arsenal corner. Saka takes it, bending an inswinger beyond the back post. Hincapié heads over.
Assistant coach Gabriel Heinze has called Piero Hincapié over for a chat on the touchline. Hincapié’s the one Arsenal player who looks a bit uncomfortable out there. Heinze was passing on instructions in typically enthusiastic fashion.
34 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Guardiola doesn’t like his team’s shape and keeps urging Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly to get further forward.
32 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Khusanov is deservedly booked for a slightly late, full-blooded lunge at Gyokeres, sweeping the centre-forward off his feet, 30 yards out on the right. Nunes wins the header at the near post.
Arsenal recycle with a long diagonal to Gabriel who heads it into the box and seems to be running for Gyokeres until Ake slides in from his blindside to drill it out for a throw-in.
The biggest area of concern for Arsenal right now will be the battle between Hincapie and Semenyo on the flank (Arsenal’s left). Semenyo has twice skipped past Hincapie, who is on a booking. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hincapie was replaced by Calafiori at one point this afternoon...
30 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Hincapié doesn’t have the pace to stick with Semenyo. Even given the left-back’s yellow card, it is still a surprise that Arteta has sent Calafiori out to warm up.
Semenyo looks like he fancies it against Hincapie. He’s beaten him once down that right flank to whip in a dangerous cross Haaland wasn’t far off meeting.
And he’s just beaten him again to win a corner.
28 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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First sustained spell of City keep-ball pressure as they sweep the ball from side to side, waiting for the opportunity to let Semenyo beast past Hincapié. which he does with ease, to get to the byline. His low cross is turned behind for a corner that comes to naught.
26 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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City very much a 4-2-4 when Arsenal have the ball deep, more a 4-2-2-2 at other times. Bernardo wins the ball by intercepting a pass, clips it forward to Haaland who lays it off with his left-instep on the volley to his right, looking for Semenyo but the ball skipped off the surface and ran away from the ex-Bournemouth man.
23 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Khusanov tries to bend a long, high pass from halfway to Semenyo at the edge of the 18-yard line but Gabriel wins the header and Khusanov has to hare all the way back to his own box to ensure the Arsenal counter-attack is snuffed out.
21 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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City spring into life and an attack with Semenyo bombing down the right and whipping over a brute of a cross that was inches behind Haaland who was well-marked and manhandled by Saliba. Arsenal break from the ensuing City corner and Khusanov uses his extraordinary speed to catch Havertz and slide in to hook the ball out of his stride. Would like to see a race between Khusanov and Van de Ven,
19 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Bernardo Silva’s terrier-like qualities veer off into ankle-biting territory when he snaps at Zubimendi’s heels and concedes a free-kick 30 yards or so out, high on the right. Rice targets the back post and Haaland reads the flight best of all to head it out. Saka pounces on the ball and dribbles into the box from the right. City stand firm, unbeguiled by his dazzling feet and scramble it away.
16 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Hincapié leaves one on Matheus Nunes after the City right-back had released his pass and is booked, probably harshly. Not every foul has to be a booking.
Arsenal will be delighted with this start. They are getting behind the City defence, with Gyokeres and Havertz seemingly enjoying this rare opportunity to run into open spaces. Most teams deploy a low defensive block against Arsenal, but not City.
14 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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City defend Saka’s corner solidly at the near post and the subsequent Rice long throw. Looks as if they have prepared well for the set-piece bombardment from the best delivery men in the business. Trajectory is everything, though and can prove unstoppable when they get it right.
12 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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O’Reilly’s cheap foul on Saka gives up a free-kick 40 yards out on the Arsenal right. City defend the cross and block Trossard’s powerful shot at the edge of the area. But the ball balloons up and spins out for a corner that Bernardo desperately strives to avoid, knowing Arsenal’s not so secret sauce can be lethal.
10 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Arsenal are exploiting O’Reilly’s instructions to go high and inside. Ake has been coming over to cover but has found himself overloaded a couple of times. First spell of City pressure ends with Saliba getting the better of Haaland in the air.
8 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Arsenal have been the better and more confident side so far. Good triple save from Trafford from Havertz and a double from Saka from rebounds. A very slick move involving Rice, White, Saka and ultimately Zubimendi played Havertz in down the right of the box but Trafford sprinted out to close the angle, blocked the dink then spread himself to bat away both of Saka’s efforts from close range.
6 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Gyokeres races down the right, exploits Ake’s mistake and makes it to the byline to pull the ball back, looking for Havertz. Khusanov gets there before him and Havertz legs him up to concede a free-kick in the City box.
4 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Kepa living dangerously when pressed hard by Semenyo but he doesn’t panic and his footwork is assured enough to calmly pass it to Hincapié.
2 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Khusanov is allowed to stand perfectly still with the ball at his feet just inside his won half while his team-mates try to find some space. No one presses him and eventually he starts a move to play it up to Doku on the left wing where he is tackled and a double bounce gives City the throw-in. Arsenal win the ball back immediately and try to send Gyokeres off on a right-wing rampage. But he was offside.
1 min: Arsenal 0 Man City 0
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Arsenal kick off, attacking from right to left and, unlike so many teams this weekend, do not boot it out for an opposition throw. They knock it back to Kepa who kicks it long, inviting the aerial duel that results in City taking possession and starting to probe from deep.
After the national anthem
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The two teams meet the presentation party, shake hands and jog around while all the on-field detritus, flags, banners, adverts etc, are cleared.
Trafford beware
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Declan Rice cracked in a 30-yard screamer during the warm-up. A bit like those free-kicks against Real Madrid.
The teams are in the tunnel
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Both sides will play in their home kits. Arsenal have some stylish retro tracksuits. The two managers embrace and then lead their teams out.
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports
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Kepa fully deserves it. He’s been phenomenal when he’s played. He’s played the whole competition and we fully trust him.
Pep Guardiola speaks to Sky Sports
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In the game against Madrid, at half-time, Ruben [Dias] felt something. He could not play, and still he’s not ready. It’s not a big, big issue I think, but he’s not ready.
Nathan [Ake], [I have] no doubts. I know he doesn’t play much for reasons [this season], but always he has experience and incredible composure.James [Trafford] is a top class, and young goalkeeper. Whatever happens, the confidence is always there.
I selected the tallest team as possible [to play Arsenal’s giants].
Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City is starting to feel more real
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Despite a defiant display during their Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, there is an air of disquiet at the Etihad. As Jason Burt reports, a palpable fear is sweeping Manchester City’s executive suite that Pep Guardiola will depart after a decade in charge. A gentleman’s agreement ensures he can leave with good grace whenever he feels his work is done. With a shortlist of potential successors quietly forming, the manager may be about to make a decision that will hang heavily over the club.
You can read Jason’s report here…
Meanwhile, across north London
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Spurs are staring down the barrel of a gun after falling 3-0 down against Nottingham Forest. You can read more here
A quick word from the captains
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 22, 2026"We know the end of this game can bring something beautiful."
Bukayo Saka is excited to share the Carabao Cup final at Wembley with the fans ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y3jo20fIUB
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 22, 2026"The form the teams are in doesn't really matter!"
Bernardo Silva is relishing the challenge Arsenal pose in the Carabao Cup final pic.twitter.com/Gk8vsFezgV
Teams for the monochrome set
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Arsenal Arrizabalaga; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Substitutes Raya, Mosquera, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.
Manchester City Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Cherki; Semenyo, Haaland, Doku.
Substitutes Donnarumma, Reijnders, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool)
Arsenal team analysis
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The unavailability of Eberechi Eze is unquestionably a blow for Arsenal, especially because he enjoyed so much success at Wembley last season as he led Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory (he scored the winner in the final against City). His absence from the side means that Kai Havertz will play behind Viktor Gyokeres in the Arsenal attack. It’s only the third time that Havertz and Gyokeres have started together, but the signs were promising in those two previous matches, a 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty and a 4-0 win at Leeds United.
Upper hand
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Not so long ago, Manchester City represented an insurmountable mental hurdle for Arsenal. In recent years, though, Arsenal have had the upper hand in meetings between the two sides. Arteta’s side are unbeaten in their last six meetings against City, having lost 15 of their previous 16 against them.
City team analysis
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No Dias for City and with Gvardiol injured, Guéhi ineligible and Stones only starting on the bench Guardiola asks Ake to partner Khusanov in central defender. Khusanov was outstanding in the second leg against Real Madrid and will be important here. No place in the starting XI, unsurprisingly, for Phil Foden, who didn’t get off the bench in either game against Real.
Illustrious guests
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Arsenal have invited their League Cup-winning squad of 1993 to Wembley today. David Seaman, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn and Steve Morrow are among those attending. Lorna Campbell, the sister of the late Kevin Campbell, is also with them.
Four changes for City
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Out go the injured Ruben Dias plus Gigi Donnarumma, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders for Nathan Ake, James Trafford, Nico O’Reilly and Antoine Semenyo.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 22, 2026Your League Cup final line-up! 😤🩵
XI | Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O'Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Donnarumma, Reijnders, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden
Arsenal team news
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Eberechi Eze out of matchday squad.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 22, 2026🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🧤 Arrizabalaga between the sticks
💪 Havertz enters the XI
©️ Saka leads us out at WembleyOur goal is clear. Bring the fight, Gunners ✊
🤝 Presented by @deel
Man City supporters’ coach fire closes M6 toll road
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A double decker bus carrying Manchester City fans down to Wembley went up in flames on Sunday morning, which prompted terrifying scenes for several other fans as they drove past.
The incident happened on the M6 Toll just a few hours before kick-off. It’s reported that there were no injuries recorded and that alternative travel was being organised to try and take the stranded passengers on towards the stadium.
James Ducker, our Northern Football Correspondent, witnessed the aftermath of the fire on his way to Wembley today:
“I passed the coach fire on the M6 Toll on the way down to Wembley this morning. The back end of the bus was fully ablaze at that stage with rows of fans on the banks in shock at what was unfolding. You could feel the heat just driving past on the far lane. It’s a relief to hear Ridley Coaches, the firm the coach belongs to, said all passengers and the driver were safely evacuated with no injuries.”
Betting on tonight’s game?
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Advertisement | GambleAware | 18+ Betting on the football tonight? Take a look at these tips and offers chosen by Telegraph Media Group
Preview: Boot on the other foot
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Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the 66th League Cup final, between eight-times winners Manchester City and the team they trail by nine points in the Premier League, two-time winners Arsenal. It has been so long since Arsenal last won it that Steve Morrow did not have a residual ache in his right elbow every time there was damp in the air and Paul Merson had a raver’s bob. They have been in three finals since 1993 but it was one domestic competition Arsêne Wenger could not crack and in 2018 they lost in his last final as a manager when his side took a 3-0 pasting from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City en route to winning their first of four in succession.
Guardiola is one of five survivors from that match eight years ago, the others being his then assistant Mikel Arteta, City captain Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Phil Foden, all three of whom started on the bench in 2018 as the latter two will probably do again. Their only previous meeting this season ended in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates when Gabriel Martinelli equalised for the hosts in the third minute of stoppage time and City start the game after two draws in the league that have cost them four points in the title race and home and away defeats by Real Madrid when first a mystifying selection and then Bernardo’s red card stymied their hopes of a quarter-final place. Arsenal, by contrast, are in rude health after four back-to-back wins in the league and victory over Bayer Leverkusen that keeps them in contention for four trophies.
Arteta lost nine of his first 10 meetings with City, an FA Cup semi-final victory in 2020 the sole, glorious exception but the boot has been on the other foot recently and Arsenal have won two and drawn three of their last five competitive matches. Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard were rated as touch and go by their manager whose only confirmed absentee is Mikel Merino. City’s treatment room is even less stretched, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, who has twanged his hamstring, are unavailable for City’s quest to move to within one of Liverpool’s record 10 League/ Milk/ Littlewoods/ Rumbelows/ Coca-Cola/ Worthington’s/ Carling/ Capital One/ Carabao Cups.