Updated 07:05, 22 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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\nArsenal and Manchester City will battle for the Carabao Cup(Image: Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/p>\n
Manchester City and Arsenal will meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday with both teams aiming to claim the first trophy of the season. While the Gunners lead the charge in the Premier League title race, City will be hurting from their midweek Champions League disappointment against Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
Arsenal sailed through to the quarter-finals after beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, while City dropped out of Europe following a 5-1 aggregate loss to their Spanish foes. Now, attention turns to Wembley and the chance to gain a psychological advantage ahead of the run-in.<\/p>\n
City sit nine points behind Arsenal in the league with a game in hand and could put even more pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side with a win in the final. However, the Gunners could put more mental distance between themselves and City by winning their first piece of silverware since the Community Shield in 2023.<\/p>\n
If recent form is anything to go by, Arsenal should have the upper hand. The Gunners went through in the Champions League and are on a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which includes a dramatic win last weekend against Everton.<\/p>\n
City, on the other hand, have only won one of their last five matches and that was in the FA Cup against Newcastle. Two defeats to Real Madrid, plus draws against West Ham and Nottingham Forest, have put an end to their European dreams and hampered them domestically.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Arsenal and Man City fans given urgent warning over \u00a31k Carabao Cup final fines<\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Arsenal strategy was ‘not Mikel Arteta’s expectation’ as Man City forced plan change<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHowever, a one-off cup game between the two sides represents a different prospect entirely with the form book going out of the window. Here, Mirror Football<\/em><\/strong> takes a look at what seven of the game’s top pundits have predicted when the two sides meet on Sunday.<\/p>\nFOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong> <\/strong>Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPaul Merson – Arsenal win<\/h3>\n Merson has backed his former team to left the trophy against City. Speaking to Sportskeeda, the ex-Arsenal star said: “If I had to pick a team, I would go Arsenal.<\/p>\n
“However, that doesn\u2019t mean it will be easy. We know Manchester City can play, and if they get going, they can hurt any team.”<\/p>\n
The former England international believes that if the Gunners do win the Carabao Cup, then the quadruple vision could become a reality. Merson added: “I believe the quadruple dream is still very much on if the Gunners win this final.<\/p>\n
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\nPaul Merson believes in his former side(Image: James Gill – Danehouse\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
“The Premier League is done and dusted, they have a good draw in the FA Cup and face Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final. I know they could face Barcelona or Atletico in the semi-final, but we all know how difficult they are to beat as a unit. So I\u2019m not giving up hopes!”<\/p>\n
Joe Cole – Arsenal win<\/h3>\n Cole will be attending the final as a spectator rather than a pundit and feels he will watch his former city rivals secure the trophy. The former Chelsea star told The Dressing Room podcast: “I\u2019m not working on the Carabao Cup final but I\u2019m going as a fan which I actually haven\u2019t done for a long time.<\/p>\n
“I fancy Arsenal, I think Arsenal beat them. Having watched Man City live, I fancy Arsenal \u2013 but it\u2019s a great game for the neutral.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ll make another prediction, I think there will be a bit of needle and a little bit of nastiness on the benches. There\u2019s a lot of tension building at this point in the season so look out for that.”<\/p>\n
Chris Sutton – City win<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\n
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\nChris Sutton has backed City to get another piece of silverware(Image: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
Sutton doesn’t think this final will have any impact on the title race and feels Arsenal are running away with the Premier League. But he does believe that Guardiola will get one over his former colleague and win the Carabao Cup on penalties.<\/p>\n
The popular pundit wrote on his BBC Sport column: “I don’t think this game has any bearing on the Premier League title race. The narrative that has been doing the rounds for a long time is that whoever wins this game wins the title, but that is not the case now – City are not catching Arsenal whatever happens at Wembley.<\/p>\n
“City are out of the Champions League now but I have got to say I thought they were brilliant on Tuesday against Real Madrid, before and after they went down to 10 men. They went for it and they were not just brave, they created plenty of chances.<\/p>\n
“With the nature of the Premier League this season, I think this will be a very different game, however. I fear this will be a really ugly and dull encounter, where both teams avoid taking risks. Prediction: 0-0 after extra time, City to win on penalties.”<\/p>\n
Tim Sherwood – City win<\/h3>\n Ex-Tottenham man Sherwood has backed City to lift the cup by the end of play on Sunday afternoon. Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: “They play in the cup final against each other as well. I think Man City might win that one.”<\/p>\n
Regarding the title race, Sherwood added: “But I don\u2019t see them winning the Premier League, I think that\u2019s gonna be red and white ribbons on that cup, and very, very soon.”<\/p>\n
Alan Shearer – Arsenal win<\/h3>\n Alan Shearer watched on as his beloved Newcastle won the Carabao Cup 12 months ago. Unfortunately his boys fell by the wayside against City themselves in the semi-finals this time around.<\/p>\n
He believes the Gunners will get revenge for the Toon in what he’s predicting will be a tight game at Wembley. He told Betfair: “I think it’ll be a great game. I think there’ll be loads of talking points. It wouldn’t even surprise me if it went to penalties. But I think Arsenal might just nick it. I think it’ll be a really, really tight game, but I’m going to go for an Arsenal win.<\/p>\n
“There is pressure on both clubs and pressure for different reasons. There is talk about this being Pep’s last season. Man City have been nowhere near what they’ve been in the past in terms of their defence. They’ve given so many opportunities away which was summed them up the other night against Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019ll be a highly charged game. There’ll be plenty of excitement. There’ll be a bit of bite in the game as well because of obvious reasons. But I’m really looking forward to the game. It should be a great Sunday with Newcastle kicking off early and then the Cup final as well. So yeah, it’ll be amazing.”<\/p>\n
Gabby Agbonlahor – Arsenal win<\/h3>\n Aston Villa hero Agbonlahor predicted that Arsenal will lift the Carabao Cup while discussing the Champions League on talkSPORT. Speaking before City crashed out of Europe, he said: “Arsenal win, Arsenal win, Ally (McCoist), for me.<\/p>\n
“I just think they know how important that game is. I just think when I look at Man City, I just think Gabriel (Magalhaes) and (William) Saliba are going to be so aggressive on (Erling) Haaland, the form that he\u2019s been in.<\/p>\n
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\nAgbonlahor has backed the Gunners(Image: Visionhaus\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
“And I think it\u2019s going to get spicy on the touchline. I know they\u2019re friends, (Mikel) Arteta and Guardiola, but I think everything\u2019s on the line in this game.”<\/p>\n
Clinton Morrison – City win<\/h3>\n Sky Sports star Clinton Morrison believes City will lift the cup at Wembley, although he doesn’t think it will have an impact on the Premier League title race.<\/p>\n
He told FreeBets: “Something in me says City can do it. Arsenal are favourites, but I think this game is actually more important for Man City than it is for Arsenal right now. I think Arsenal will win the Premier League regardless of what happens on Sunday, I just can’t see City catching them. But for City, this is a must-win. If they lose the Carabao Cup and they’re out of the Champions League, they’ve only got the FA Cup left to play for. That’s not where Manchester City expect to be.<\/p>\n
It’s absolutely massive for Man City. They’ve won trophies for fun in recent years and now their season is going to be defined by this one afternoon at Wembley. But that gives me confidence in them, they know how to turn up for finals, they know how to win at Wembley. Both teams will go for it, there’s a lot of quality on show, and I think it’ll be a brilliant final. But I’m backing City.”<\/p>\n
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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