Arsenal and Manchester City Battle for Carabao Cup Glory

The first major trophy of the English football season is on the line as Arsenal and Manchester City face off in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

A Top-of-the-Table Showdown

This year’s final marks a historic occasion, being the first time in the Carabao Cup’s 66-year history that the top two teams in the Premier League will compete for the title Sporting News. Both Arsenal and Manchester City have been building towards this moment, with the Carabao Cup representing the first opportunity to secure silverware this season EFL.

Road to the Final

Manchester City advanced to the final after a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle United in the semi-finals. Their journey included earlier wins against Huddersfield, Swansea, and Brentford EFL.

Arsenal overcame Chelsea in a tightly contested semi-final, with Kai Havertz scoring a crucial 90th-minute goal to secure a 4-2 aggregate win. Their path to the final similarly saw victories against Port Vale, Brighton, and Crystal Palace EFL.

Historical Context

Manchester City boasts a strong record in the League Cup, having won the trophy eight times, most recently in 2021 EFL. Arsenal, in contrast, has only lifted the trophy twice, with their last victory dating back to 1993 EFL.

Team Lineups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK), Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Viktor Gyokeres Telegraph.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): James Trafford (GK), Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, 6… Telegraph.

What’s at Stake

With Arsenal currently leading the Premier League table, a victory in the Carabao Cup would provide a significant boost to their title aspirations Sporting News. For Manchester City, the trophy offers a chance to regain momentum and potentially influence the remainder of the title race Sporting News.