Manchester City hit with late injury blow for Carabao Cup final against Arsenal | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will be without Ruben Dias for the 2026 Carabao Cup Final, it has been revealed ahead of kick-off at Wembley.

The 28-year-old was withdrawn at the half-time interval of Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium – a match that Manchester City lost 1-2 on the night.

That outcome saw City exit Europe’s premier club competition to Los Blancos through a 1-5 aggregate scoreline, whilst Dias came into the contest having been an unused substitute in the Premier League draw away to West Ham the previous weekend.

And having exited the action earlier than expected against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side, it appears as though the substitution from Pep Guardiola was an enforced change ahead of a crunch clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Why is Ruben Dias absent against Arsenal?

Ahead of kick-off in the capital, it has been revealed that Manchester City will be without Ruben Dias against Arsenal for the Carabao Cup final after the Portugal international defender sustained a hamstring injury.

Speaking ahead of kick-off from Wembley Stadium, Guardiola told broadcasters, “In the game against [Real] Madrid, at half-time, Ruben 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.”

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will already be without Marc Guehi for the clash against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, after the 25-year-old had already played for Crystal Palace in the competition and failed to register prior to the semi-final stage.

Who else is missing for Man City against Arsenal?

Elsewhere in the defensive department for the business end of the season, Josko Gvardiol remains sidelined despite travelling with the squad to London on Saturday afternoon, with the Croatian recovering from a leg bone fracture sustained in January.

As for Ruben Dias, the defender’s hamstring injury is the latest issue to affect the central defender, having already missed eight games at the beginning of 2026 with a previous hamstring problem before returning in early February.

Notably, the Manchester City captaincy group member has also not been called up by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez for their upcoming international friendlies against Mexico and the United States.

Manchester City will be aiming to win their first piece of silverware since before the start of the 2024/25 season when they claimed the Community Shield, whilst also preventing the second successive campaign without a major trophy to their name.