How it unfolded
As the clock approached 16:30 GMT on March 22, 2026, anticipation built at Wembley Stadium for the EFL Cup final between Arsenal F.C. and Manchester City. Both teams had been in strong form leading up to this match, with Arsenal aiming for their third Carabao Cup title and Manchester City looking to secure their tenth final appearance in the competition.
Arsenal confirmed their starting XI shortly before kick-off, making two changes to their lineup. Notably, Eberechi Eze was sidelined due to injury, leading to Kai Havertz stepping in to fill the gap. Kepa Arrizabalaga was named as the starting goalkeeper for Arsenal, tasked with keeping a clean sheet against a formidable Manchester City attack.
Meanwhile, Manchester City also announced their lineup, which featured four changes from their previous match. Nathan Ake replaced Ruben Dias, who was unable to play due to injury. Additionally, Josko Gvardiol was ruled out, and Marc Guehi was cup-tied, limiting City’s defensive options. James Trafford was selected to start in goal, a decision that highlighted the depth of City’s squad.
Arsenal’s starting XI included key players such as Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres. This lineup reflects Mikel Arteta’s strategy to balance experience with youthful energy, particularly in the attacking front.
On the other hand, Manchester City’s lineup featured Matheus Nunes, Abduqodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Nico O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, and the prolific Erling Haaland. Pep Guardiola’s selection underscores his commitment to maintaining a high-tempo game, especially with Haaland leading the attack.
As the match was set to commence, both teams were aware of the stakes involved. Arsenal had created 16 big chances in the Carabao Cup this season and boasted three clean sheets, while Manchester City had scored 12 goals in the same competition, also achieving three clean sheets. Arsenal’s unbeaten streak of 14 matches across all competitions added to their confidence heading into the final.
With kick-off imminent, the atmosphere at Wembley was electric, with fans from both sides eager to see their teams claim victory. The tactical decisions made by Arteta and Guardiola would be crucial in determining the outcome of this high-stakes encounter.
As the teams lined up on the pitch, the significance of this match was clear. For Arsenal, a win would not only secure the EFL Cup but also bolster their ambitions for a quadruple this season. For Manchester City, adding another trophy to their cabinet would reaffirm their dominance in English football.
