Arsenal vs Man City: Carabao Cup final date, kick-off time and latest team news | OneFootball

Arsenal and Man City set tone in Carabao Cup final

The Premier League’s two most exacting forces will meet under the Wembley arch for the first major domestic final of the season, with Arsenal and Manchester City contesting the 2026 Carabao Cup final. It is a fixture that feels less like an isolated occasion and more like a chapter in an ongoing duel that has come to define English football’s competitive edge.

Arsenal arrived here first, navigating a testing semi-final against Chelsea to win 4-2 on aggregate. The achievement carries weight beyond the scoreline. It marks their first final since August 2020, when an FA Cup triumph still stands as the only major trophy won under Mikel Arteta. Progress since then has been unmistakable, but silverware has remained elusive.

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City’s route was far more emphatic. They dismantled holders Newcastle 5-1 across two legs, a reminder of their comfort in this competition and their ability to impose control long before pressure can settle.

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Wembley context and recent history

This final inevitably invites memory. The sides last met at this stage in 2018, when City swept aside Arsenal 3-0, with goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva setting a tone that reflected the power imbalance of the era. Much has changed since then.

The modern rivalry is tighter, sharper and charged with consequence. Arsenal have increasingly resisted City’s dominance, particularly on big occasions, and Wembley now feels like neutral ground where narrative matters as much as tactics.

The final is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium, with kick-off time yet to be confirmed.

Selection questions shape approach

Arsenal’s preparation centres on availability rather than crisis. As things stand, Mikel Merino is the only player in danger of missing out, with surgery required on a foot injury and a return pencilled in for later in the campaign. Beyond that, Arteta’s challenge is one of choice.

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Goalkeeper selection remains intriguing. Kepa Arrizabalaga has been the cup goalkeeper, yet David Raya is the established league figure. Form between now and March may decide the balance between continuity and hierarchy.

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City expect John Stones, Savinho and Mateo Kovacic to return in time, while Josko Gvardiol will be sidelined. James Trafford has been trusted in the cup and is expected to keep his place after an impressive semi-final display.

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Marc Guehi, who scored against Arsenal for Crystal Palace earlier in the competition, is ineligible after joining City beyond the cut-off date.

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Prediction framed by pressure

A final between the league’s top two inevitably carries subtext. Beyond the trophy, there is a psychological edge at stake in a title race that has been defined by margins. City, particularly under Pep Guardiola, have made this competition their own, with no manager lifting the Carabao Cup more often.

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Yet the balance has shifted. Arsenal have repeatedly shown they can meet City without deference, and the sense of a long wait adds urgency. This feels like a moment rather than a rehearsal.

Prediction: Arsenal to win, 1-0.

Head to head record

Arsenal wins: 101Man City wins: 65Draws: 48

City may own recent Carabao Cup history, but Arsenal arrive believing this is their time.