James Trafford will start Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, confirms Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City’s second-choice goalkeeper James Trafford will start in net for the Blues against Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The 23-year-old has struggled for minutes since Gianluigi Donnarumma‘s deadline day arrival to the Etihad Stadium in 2025, failing to play a single Premier League minute since.

Trafford was open to leaving Manchester City in January amid interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa but Pep Guardiola deemed the Englishman part of his plans for the rest of the season.

It remains to be seen what the summer transfer window holds for Trafford, whose minutes at the Etihad Stadium upon a return from Burnley last summer have been restricted to the Carabao Cup and FA Cup – with the Blues still fighting on three fronts after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid earlier this week.

Guardiola: Trafford to start Carabao Cup final vs Arsenal

City have endured a difficult March as successive Premier League draws to Nottingham Forest and West Ham have left Guardiola and co nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal, whom the Blues face in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola has confirmed that Trafford will start in net for Manchester City against the Gunners in London as they bid for their first piece of silverware in two seasons.

Guardiola’s side are in desperate need of a change in mood as they look to cut down Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table after a horror few weeks of form that have clouded serious doubt over City’s silverware prospects in the run-in.

What has Guardiola said about Arsenal and Mikel Arteta ahead of Wembley?

The first-team squad had two days off after City’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg defeat to Real Madrid, which would have allowed them to clear their minds and regroup for a timely chance to turn a corner with what can be an invaluable psychological boost over the Blues’ title rivals.

“Twenty two times, we’ve been to Wembley in 10 years – it’s not bad,” said Guardiola as he previewed the Carabao Cup final. “(Arsenal are an) exceptional team. A big challenge to see how is our level.”

Asked whether he has had dinner with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently, Guardiola added: “I don’t have time to go to London. And I don’t think he has time, in four competitions, to come to Manchester.”

Guardiola will be looking to shuffle his starting XI for Wembley after a difficult few weeks mentally for his side, who will go away after this weekend’s final and represent their respective nations in the upcoming international break.

An FA Cup quarter-final tie against Liverpool awaits Guardiola and City upon their return in April, with the Blue desperate to forego their troubles so far in March and enjoy a trophy-laden finish to a transitional campaign whose ups and downs have been underscored by the sheer number of personnel changes in the dressing room.