Arsenal v Man City LIVE: Carabao Cup final team news, line-ups and prediction

Arsenal have lost more League Cup finals than any other side (six), most recently in 2018 against Guardiola’s City.

Meanwhile, City have won eight of their nine League Cup finals, with only Liverpool winning the competition more often (10).

Ahead of the final, a piece on Nico O’Reilly from Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly…

A player who is making his mark has an imprint on him. Nico O’Reilly has got a tattoo of a telephone code: 0161, the prefix for Manchester numbers. “It’s where I grew up, Manchester, the area,” said Manchester City’s No 33. “It’s me, really, how I became who I am today. Growing up there, I really enjoyed it. I used to go out, play football every day with my friends. I’m still in touch with a lot of them.”

O’Reilly still plays football with his friends now. Except that those friends are Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias and Rodri. He grew up idolising Kevin De Bruyne and admiring Ilkay Gundogan; there have been games this season when an ultra-versatile player has taken their old roles in the City midfield.

The last time these two sides faced off in a cup final was in 2018, when City ran out 3-0 winners in the League Cup final.

The match was Pep Guardiola’s first final in charge of City, and subsequently the first trophy of an immensely successful time in charge at the Etihad.

The scorers on the day include three legendary City names: Sergio Aguero put his side ahead in the opening 18 minutes, before captain Vincent Kompany added a second after half-time and mercurial midfielder David Silva rounded off the scoring.

City have won eight of their nine League Cup finals, with only Liverpool winning the competition more often (10). The Citizens have triumphed in each of their last seven finals, since a loss to Wolves in 1974.

Arsenal are looking to win the League Cup for just the third time, after victories in 1987 and 1993.

City’s hopes of repeating their 2023 European success were ended this week as the Spanish giants completed a 5-1 aggregate success in the last 16.

The setback has not discouraged City manager Guardiola, who has seen enough in recent months to be optimistic even if he accepts there remains a gap to bridge at the very highest level.

Their last trophy was the 2020 FA Cup final, the only prize of Arteta’s reign so far, but his team could yet secure a remarkable four trophies this season.

The Manchester City manager had indicated he was likely to pick his second-choice goalkeeper and has decided against going for Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma at Wembley, where he won Euro 2020.

Trafford, who was called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel on Friday, has played throughout City’s Carabao Cup run and excelled in the semi-final against Newcastle.

Pep Guardiola: “I’ve said before, of course winning helps but we could win on Sunday and then be bad in the league and go (in) the opposite (direction).

“I’ve learned that in many competitions, with many games with a short recovery time, you have to have the ability to forget and move forwards in good and bad moments. Learn what you have to do better.

“Today in modern football we have a lot of games, a lot of competitions mixed during the weeks and everything.

“Psychologically you have to be prepared in the good moments and continue, and in the bad moments forget it and always learn from victories and defeats.

“We have been to Wembley 21 times in semi-finals and finals, so being there is an honour and a big challenge.”

Mikel Arteta: “I’m really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen.

“When it comes to the crucial moments and when it comes to the moment to attack a trophy, take it and bring it home, that’s when you need to step up and make a difference.

“That’s why we are all very excited because we know what is at stake, and now it’s about the next step, the next game, and the fact that we are at the end of March and we are in four competitions tells a lot about the team.

“It’s one of the defining moments because at the end it’s whether you win the trophy or not. We need to prove that point. That’s clear. And that has to be done on the pitch.”