Arsenal vs Man City Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 English League Cup | Final
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The first major trophy of the 2025-26 English football season will be decided at Wembley as Arsenal take on Man City in the League Cup final.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports+ / USA – CBS Sports Golazo
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Paramount+
Arsenal preview: Breaking long drought
You have to go back to August 2020 for the last time Arsenal won a major trophy, that being the FA Cup which remains the only piece of silverware won by Mikel Arteta since taking charge of the Gunners (not including the Community Shield). Fast forward to March 2026 and Arteta has the opportunity to add to his collection and complete the first of a potential quadruple in 2025-26.
Arsenal defeated Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate to reach Wembley and since then have won eight of their last 11 games in all competitions, not losing over that period. You have to go back to Man City at home in the Premier League on January 25th for the last time Arsenal were beaten in any fixture.
Man City preview: Etihad south
Wembley is a familiar stopping ground for Man City under Pep Guardiola, but their last final at the stadium saw them beaten by Crystal Palace in last season’s FA Cup final. Unlike former assistant Arteta, Guardiola has continued to rack up titles across his time at Man City and victory here would see him lift his 19th major trophy since coming to England.
However, it’s been a rough period for the Citizens, who are coming off the back of being dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid. They’ve not won any of their last three matches in all competitions after having also been held to a draw by lowly West Ham in the Premier League.
Arsenal team news: Race to be fit
Both Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber are battling to be fit for Arsenal, with the latter having been subbed off early on with an injury against Everton last weekend. However, Mikel Merino won’t make it.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Unavailable: Merino (Injured)
Questionable: Odegaard (Injured), Timber (Injured)
Man City team news: Both absentees at centre-back
Man City are without the injury Josko Gvardiol and the ineligible Marc Guehi, despite the efforts of the club to overturn the ineligibility. Guardiola took a number of players off early in midweek, no doubt with this game in mind.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait Nouri; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Doku
Unavailable: Gvardiol (Injured), Guehi (Ineligible)
Questionable:
Arsenal vs Man City prediction
As you would expect in a big final, we are likely to see a cagey affair on the big pitch at Wembley. Man City haven’t beaten Arsenal since April 2023, with the Gunners winning three of the last six encounters between the two clubs and the rest ending in draws. Goals have also been at a premium across those games and the same is likely on this occasion.
Arsenal’s defence is notoriously strong, easily the best in the country whilst Man City are sure to lock in and Guardiola will no doubt have a plan on how to counter the Gunners’ notorious set-piece threat. However, the overwhelming quality of Arsenal should tell across the 90 minutes, as Man City’s backline are just too unreliable to depend upon, especially against a team like Arteta’s side. Back under 3.5 goals to be scored, but for Arsenal to claim League Cup glory.
Arsenal vs Man City tip: Arsenal to win and under 3.5 goals
