Arsenal v Manchester City — Titans collide for the Wembley crown 
Far from the relegation scrap, the two heavyweights — first versus second — go head-to-head to lift the first big English trophy of the season.
Arsenal desperate to end the drought 
For Arsenal the wait feels endless. The last time they won this competition was April 1993 — not one player in the current squad was even born. They knocked Chelsea out in the semis and have been ruthless since: 14 matches unbeaten and a recent 2-0 win over Leverkusen in the Champions League. Momentum? They’ve got plenty.
Sitting nine points clear at the top, Arsenal are pretty much untouchable right now. Arteta — unbeaten in his last eight Wembley outings as player and manager — knows how to handle a day like this and avoid a collapse. Facing a historic bogey in this competition, the Gunners will want to control the tempo and put the game to bed before nerves set in.
City hunting consolation 
On the other side it’s grim faces all round. The Sky Blues were dumped out of Europe by Real Madrid (2-1) at the Etihad, and Guardiola is taking heat for his tactics as what could be his final season in charge starts to wobble. One win from their last five across all competitions — the machine is creaking.
And yet, if there’s one competition City know how to win it’s the League Cup — eight wins from nine finals says it all. Still, they have a psychological block against this Arsenal side and haven’t beaten them in six meetings. If they’re to salvage a trophy and nick a season, they’ll likely have to ride out Arsenal’s best spells in London and rediscover that brutal edge in front of goal.
Probable line-ups
Arsenal: Kepa ; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie ; Zubimendi, Rice ; Saka, Eze, Trossard ; Gyokeres
Manchester City: Trafford ; Nunes, Dias, Stones, Ait-Nouri ; Silva, Rodri, O’Reilly ; Cherki, Haaland, Semenyo
Football Picks Arsenal vs Manchester City
Both teams to score
Even though matches between Arteta and Guardiola often turn into tactical scrap-heaps in midfield, a Wembley final changes things.
Arsenal are ripping teams apart and keep finding the net with a fearsome attack, but Manchester City are playing like their season’s on the line and will be stung by that European exit. Both sides desperately need a win and both can hurt from set plays. Expect an intense game where pressure forces both defenses to crack at least once.
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