The first silverware of the season is on the line.
Arsenal and Manchester City face off at Wembley in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, with the two managers presenting slightly differing perspectives on the significance of victory.
The Gunners are seeking what would be an unprecedented quadruple and go into the game as favourites, given they hold a nine-point lead over City in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal have not won a major trophy since prevailing in the FA Cup in 2020. As such, while Arteta and his players have loftier ambitions than simply ending that drought, the Gunners boss believes the showpiece represents a defining moment in the campaign.
“It’s one of the defining moments because at the end, it’s whether you win the trophy or not – and that’s the most important thing once you get to the final,” Arteta told his pre-match press conference.
“But in order to be there, you have to do a lot of things and earn a lot of things as the team has done so far. So, we need to prove that point, that’s clear, and that has to be done on the pitch.
“When you have been in this position and gone years without winning a trophy, obviously it adds more necessity, but also more drive because you really want it. And that’s something that we have.
“That is something really important for us and something that we’ve been trying to achieve for a while and now we have the opportunity to do it.”
City, beat Arsenal in the 2018 final to win the first trophy of Guardiola’s tenure, one which came with Arteta working as his assistant.
They are seeking a record-tying 10th EFL Cup title, though Guardiola was lukewarm on the suggestion that a victory over Arsenal would be an aid to City in their quest to chase down the Gunners in the Premier League.
City have a game in hand on Arsenal and welcome them to the Etihad Stadium next month.
“We have got to Wembley 22 times in 10 years, it’s an honour and a big challenge,” said Guardiola.
“They [Arsenal] are an exceptional team, it’s a big challenge for us to see our level.”
“I don’t know,” Guardiola added when asked if the game could impact the title race.
“Of course, winning helps, just for the fact that winning helps. We can win the competition on Sunday and after in the league it is going the opposite [way].
“I learned that when there are many competitions and many games in a short time of recovery – Champions League, FA Cups, Carabao [EFL] Cups, Premier League – you have to have the ability to forget and move forward in the good and the bad moments.
“Learning from that, what you have to do better, this is what we have to do.”
Team news for Arsenal v Manchester City
Mikel Arteta was non-committal on whether Jurrien Timber (ankle) or Martin Odegaard (knee) would be in his 20-man squad for the final.
James Trafford will start in goal for City, who will again be without Josko Gvardiol (shin).
Predicted line-ups for Arsenal v Manchester City
Arsenal: Kepa; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.
Manchester City: Trafford; Nunes, Dias, Khusanov, Aït-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly, Bernardo; Cherki, Haaland, Semenyo.
Where to watch Arsenal v Manchester City: TV and online streams
Arsenal v Manchester City kicks off at 4:30pm UK time.
The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Ultra HD, ITV 1, and STV Scotland. It is also available via NOW TV.
It can be streamed via Sky Go, ITV X, STV Player and Prime Video UK.
Stats for Arsenal v Manchester City
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six games with City in all competitions.
- Only Liverpool (10) have won the EFL Cup on more occasions than City (nine).
- City have won their last four EFL Cup meetings with Arsenal by an aggregate score of 11-1. They have not lost to the Gunners in the competition since a third-round defeat in 2004-05 (1-2).
- Arsenal have lost only one of their five matches with City at Wembley (W3 D1). That loss came in the 2018 EFL Cup final, which City won 3-0.
- Only two teams have beaten Arsenal in two major cup finals previously – Newcastle United (1932 FA Cup, 1952 FA Cup) and Leeds United (1968 League Cup, 1972 FA Cup).
Prediction for Arsenal v Manchester City
Arsenal
1
–
2
Manchester City
Arsenal may have the edge in the league, but Guardiola should find a way for his team to come out on top in a one-off game.
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