Manchester City head into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley aiming to put their European disappointment behind them when they face Arsenal in a highly anticipated clash.
Pep Guardiola’s side were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in midweek, falling 2-1 to Real Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 encounter while reduced to 10 men.
The result confirmed a heavy 5-1 aggregate defeat, leaving City with only a short turnaround before their return to Wembley for a 10th League Cup final appearance.
Despite a handful of players returning to training in recent weeks, City will still be without some key figures for the meeting with Mikel Arteta’s side.
City forced to reshuffle after setbacks
One of the most significant absentees for Guardiola is Josko Gvardiol. The defender sustained a serious tibial fracture earlier in the year and underwent surgery, and there are concerns he could miss the remainder of the campaign.
His absence leaves a gap in City’s defensive options at a crucial stage of the season.
Marc Guéhi is also unavailable, though for different reasons. The centre-back is cup-tied, having featured for Crystal Palace earlier in the competition before completing a move to City in January.
As a result, he is ineligible for the final, though he is expected to return to contention for the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool in April.
Guardiola will therefore need to rely on the depth of his squad as City attempt to claim another domestic trophy, even as they continue to manage the physical and emotional toll of their European exit.
Arsenal sweating over key trio fitness
Arsenal, meanwhile, have their own selection concerns ahead of the final, with several important players facing late fitness tests.
Eberechi Eze is a slight doubt after picking up an ankle injury during the Gunners’ recent European fixture against Bayer Leverkusen. The midfielder had earlier scored a stunning opener before being forced off in the second half.
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After the match, he reassured supporters by saying he was “OK”, though his availability remains uncertain and will depend on medical assessment.
Jurrien Timber is another player whose participation is in question. The Dutch defender suffered an ankle problem during Arsenal’s Premier League outing against Everton and was subsequently absent for the return leg against Leverkusen. His readiness for Wembley is still unclear.
There is also concern surrounding captain Martin Odegaard, who has been dealing with a recurring knee issue. The Norwegian playmaker is considered a major doubt, with Arsenal fans awaiting a final decision on whether he will be fit enough to feature in one of the club’s biggest matches of the season.
Mikel Merino, however, has already been ruled out. The Spanish midfielder is continuing his recovery from foot surgery and is not expected back in action imminently, although he is targeting a return before the campaign concludes.
With both sides dealing with notable absences and uncertainties, Sunday’s final could hinge on squad depth and late fitness calls as much as tactical preparation.
