The EFL Cup is going to the finals, literally. Arsenal and Manchester City face each other at Wembley, teams that are also battling it out for the league title this season. This will make the English Cup final even more exciting. Of course, the trophy will be on the line on Sunday, but we all know very well that the final match can have a big psychological impact on the rest of the Premier League season. By Mikel Arteta's the Cityzens can make it clear that this year belongs to them. On the other hand, the Manchester City players will certainly not give their skin cheaply and on the contrary, they will want to prove not only to Arsenal that the season is not over yet. I'm curious to see how the game will turn out and how both teams will react in the following games. But that's a question for the future, for now let's focus on this weekend's final. Can the north London footballers lift the EFL Cup winners' trophy above their heads after more than thirty years?
Basic information
| 📅 Date and time | 🏟️ Stadium | ⚽️ Match | 🏆 Competition |
| 22. 3. 2026, 17:30 (CET) | Wembley | Arsenal vs Manchester City | EFL Cup (final) |
Historical look back
Arsenal have only won the EFL Cup twice in history, in 1987 and 1993. On the other hand Cityzens are the second most successful team in the competition after Liverpool (10 titles). They have already triumphed in the EFL Cup Eight times (1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021). Arsenal have reached the final on three occasions since they last won the English Cup. In 2007 they fell to Chelsea, in 2011 they lost to Birmingham and most recently, in 2018, it was Manchester City that failed. Although it's been almost ten years ago, such defeats are not forgotten. At least not among the fans. Will Arsenal be able to avenge the Cityzens eight-year-old Wembley defeat?
Form
Current form of both teams can be found in the tables, I'm sure you're all used to that by now. There's probably nothing to add to that. However, with the EFL Cup final upon us, let's take a quick look at both teams' journey to Wembley.
Arsenal's EFL Cup journey began with a match against third-league Port Vale, which the Gunners handled without any major problems and won 2:0. With the same result then defeated Brighton. The drama came in the quarterfinals against Crystal Palace, which had to be decided by penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. The tie was decided in the eighth series, in which Maxence Lacroix was the first to miss his penalty kick. In the semi-finals, Arsenal played a double-header with Chelsea, which he managed to beat both at Stamford Bridge (2:3) and at home at the Emirates (1:0). Manchester City began their English Cup journey with a 2:0 win against Huddersfield, which he followed up in the next round with a 3:1 win against Swansea. Pep Guardiola's charges also got through the Brentford, which they beat 2-0. In the semi-final double-header, Manchester came through Newcastle, which they first beat away (0:2) and then at home (3:1).
Arsenal
| 📈 Current form: 🟢 🟢 🟡 🟢 🟢 |
| ⚽️ Results: Arsenal 2:0 Leverkusen (CL), Arsenal 2:0 Everton (PL), Leverkusen 1:1 Arsenal (CL), Mansfield 1:2 Arsenal (FA Cup), Brighton 0:1 Arsenal (PL) |
| 🏆 Premier League position: 1st (70 points) |
Manchester City
| 📈 Current form: 🔴 🟡 🔴 🟢 🟡 |
| ⚽️ ResultsManchester City 1:2 Real Madrid (CL), West Ham 1:1 Manchester City (PL), Real Madrid 3:0 Manchester City (CL), Newcastle 1:3 Manchester City (FA Cup), Manchester City 2:2 Nottingham (PL) |
| 🏆 Premier League position: 2nd (61 points) |
Team and expected line-up
How Mikel Arteta decides to put the lineup together is a big nut for me. If it was just the final, I think the decision would be easier, but with both teams facing each other in less than a month at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League in a match that could significantly affect the title fight, it's really hard to see what the Spanish manager will come up with.
Expected line-up
Mikel Arteta's first dilemma will be at goalkeeper. All EFL Cup matches were played by Kepa, who was giving a solid performance. From this point of view, the Spanish manager has no reason to leave his compatriot out of the squad. But there's one big but. It's the final, and that's why I'm leaning towards Arteta putting his faith in his number one goalkeeper. The final is not about sympathy or fairness to the players, it's about winning. Well, let's be surprised, but you know my opinion.
Similarly, the defence will be at its strongest. The only question mark hanging over the state of his health Jurriën Timber, who, if necessary, would be replaced by a healed Ben White. I am of the opinion that Timber's absence in the last competitive match is due to Sunday's final, for which Mikel Arteta spared the Dutch defender. I expect Timber to start from the first minute.
At the pre-game press conference, we learned that Martin Ødegaard he's doing everything he can to be ready for the Cityzens. Although I think he'll be part of the squad, I'd be very surprised to see him in the starting lineup. His inclusion in the team will be mainly psychological. Arteta will want to have his captain close to the team in a game like this. What does this mean for the composition of the central three? Simply put? Nothing new. In the middle of the park, the midfield will be Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze.
In the most offensive part of the lineup, there is a lot to choose from. I'll start with the most secure position, which is the right wing, where Bukayo Saka. In the eyes of Mikel Arteta, another option in such a match is not even an option. On the other side of the field, the situation is much more open. Although it would make the most sense to me to use one of the speed-over-standard footballers (Gabriel Martinelli or Noni Madueke), I think he's going to start Leandro Trossard. At the point forward position, the decision will be made between a pair of Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz with the Swedish footballer having a better chance in my opinion.
Absences
The only player officially confirmed by Mikel Arteta is 100% certain not to make it to the final at Wembley. Mikel Merino. Everyone else should be available or at the very least should be medically fit enough to still be in the game that they won't miss the nomination. If that is indeed the case, then apart from the injured Spanish midfielder, there will be other players missing from the nomination. But not because of injury, but because of the rules of the competition. There can be a maximum of nine players on the substitutes' bench ready to intervene in the match. If I stick to the line-up I have predicted, including substitutes, they will not fit into the nomination. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christian Nørgaard and a young man Max Dowman. Maybe everything will be different in the end, but if I had to guess which players won't make the roster, it will be this trio.
Opponent
| 🏟️ Stadium: Etihad Stadium, Manchester (capacity 55 097) |
| 👔 Manager: Pep Guardiola |
| 🧤Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford |
| 🛡️ Defenders: Rayan Aït-Nouri, Nathan Aké, Max Alleyne, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi, Joško Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis, John Stones |
| 🎯 Midfielders: Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic, Nico, Matheus Nunes, Nico O'Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri, Bernardo Silva |
| ⚽️ Forwards: Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Savinho, Antoine Semenyo |
| 🚑 Injuries: Joško Gvardiol |
Match
Today I have written a lot about the importance of the match myself and you can find a lot more on various social networks. The match is really being analysed from all possible angles. And what if... One thing is for sure, if we go by the league table, the two best English teams at the moment will face each other. This in itself should be a guarantee of quality. I dare say we will definitely see quality, but it depends on the form. Or rather, how the managers of both teams decide to serve it to us. Because quality performances do not necessarily make for an attractive spectacle. Unfortunately. Neither Mikel Arteta nor Pep Guardiola are surely thinking about how to play the best football on Sunday, but how to win the game. You know what they say, the ends justify the means. Maybe it will be an open battle with lots of excitement, chances and goals, but I honestly don't think so.
So what could the match look like? It's hard to say, but the logical thing is that it should build up over time. I expect a cautious start, played safe by both sides. What about the ending? Let's hope for a thrilling one. When the first goal of the match will be scored and of course which team will take care of it will be crucial for the game picture. It could also happen that the match ends without goals. Let's hope not, but this option is not unrealistic either. However, I personally believe that we will see goals in regulation time and I also believe that Arsenal will win their third ever EFL Cup after years of waiting. I predict a 2:1 Arsenal win.
Next match
After the final game, we'll take a break from club football for a little while, as it's on the schedule after a long break representation break. After the game, Mikel Arteta's charges will take the field on Saturday on 4th of April 2026 at 21:00 (CET) at St. Mary's Stadium against Southampton, where they will present in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
See you next time, I'll look forward to it!
You might be interested in
- Round of 16 replay is here, Arsenal host Leverkusen in London
- Premier League replaces Cups, Arsenal host Everton
- Arsenal face Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16
- Arsenal take on third-tier Mansfield in FA Cup
- After two London derbies, Arsenal travel to Brighton
Editor, administrator and editor of the True Gunner Diary website, but above all a devoted Arsenal fan. I started with sports articles at the Tipsport bookmaker, where I have published more than 100 blogs. If you want to know more about me, check out the section of the same name here on the site.