Carabao Cup news

"It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football," said Erling Haaland when he announced his investment in the Total Chess World Championship this week. "You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything." The Manchester City striker’s strategy cannot be faulted except at one stadium in particular: Wembley.

Arsenal will look to end their six-year trophy drought on Sunday when they take on rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Going back even further, the Gunners haven't won silverware in front of live fans since their 2017 FA Cup triumph, a time when Arsene Wenger was still manager and Mikel Arteta had just completed his first season as Pep Guardiola's assistant.

The Gunners have been sweating over the fitness of Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber ahead of the Carabao Cup final. Odegaard hasn't featured since the draw with Brentford last month, while Timber was forced off during the 2-0 victory against Everton last Saturday. Their absence is felt, but Mikel Arteta remains hopeful.

Haaland has failed to score in eight finals for City. Arsenal are unbeaten in six consecutive meetings, while Guardiola has lost four of his last five major finals.

Jamie Carragher claims we are in a "strange new world" where neutrals favour Man City over Arsenal for the Premier League title, as well as this weekend’s Carabao Cup final. He argues that Mikel Arteta’s pragmatic "win-at-all-costs" style, plus a polarising fanbase, has flipped the "anyone but City" sentiment into a resounding "anyone but Arsenal."

Silverware is on the line this weekend. We’ve got three Arsenal vs Manchester City predictions for their Carabao Cup final on Sunday, 22 March.

Everything you need to know about Arsenal v Manchester City, the Carabao Cup final: line-ups and how to watch the match

The last time Manchester City and Arsenal faced each other in the League Cup final, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta sat side by side in the Wembley dugout as head coach and assistant before celebrating as their City team destroyed the Gunners 3-0 and claimed the first of piece of silverware of the former's time in England. The rampant win only crystalized the widening gap between the two clubs.

Football fans are bracing for a seismic showdown this Sunday at Wembley as Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Alan Shearer has heightened the stakes by suggesting a Gunners victory could pave the way for a historic quadruple. With both teams under immense pressure, this final could define the entire season of each club.

Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie has played down the psychological impact of the upcoming Carabao Cup final on the Premier League title race. Despite the Gunners' nine-point lead at the summit, the Ecuadorian insists the squad is focused solely on lifting the trophy at Wembley.

We’ve got enticing selections for our bets of the week predictions. There’s great value in our picks from matches around the world.

Jeremy Doku has called on his Manchester City team-mates to use Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Arsenal as a "good cure" for their recent European disappointment. After a bruising Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, the Belgian winger insists that securing silverware at Wembley is the priority. With a domestic treble still a mathematical possibility, Doku believes the squad must move on quickly to rescue their season.

Pep Guardiola is ready to make a definitive call on his Manchester City future following a devastating Champions League exit. The Catalan coach has reportedly earmarked a specific window to mull over his next steps as a monumental era at the Etihad Stadium approaches its twilight.

Declan Rice has challenged his Arsenal team-mates to seize the first available piece of silverware this season as they prepare for a high-stakes Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. Fresh from securing a Champions League quarter-final berth, the England midfielder believes a victory at Wembley could provide the essential momentum for a historic quadruple pursuit. Rice emphasised that the showdown will ultimately be decided by which side possesses the greater hunger for glory.