Carabao Cup: Who needs a final win more? Mikel Arteta or Pep Guardiola?

Arteta’s Arsenal will be desperate to shed their mark as a team that has failed in recent years.

Arsenal and their manager are bidding for a first trophy since beating Chelsea in the 2020 FA Cup final, just nine months after Guardiola left his side as his assistant at City to take charge at the Emirates Stadium.

In the same period, Guardiola, Arteta’s managerial mentor, claimed a Champions League trophy, four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a UEFA Cup, as well as a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup.

Arsenal, since Arteta last tasted success, have lost in the Europa League semi-final to Villarreal in 2021, the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2022 and 2025 to Liverpool and Newcastle United respectively, as well as last season’s Champions League semi-final against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners have finally broken that pattern to reach the final, but Arteta must also release Guardiola’s grip, having won just four of their past 16 meetings against him – including the Community Shield in 2023 – while losing nine.

This suggests that Arteta is desperate to break the cycle of ending the match empty-handed.

“I think overall Arteta is desperate for it because he didn’t win enough trophies during his time at Arsenal compared to how successful they were,” former Arsenal and England defender Matt Upson told BBC Sport.

“It’s been a case of ‘almost but not quite’ for Arteta after the seasons in which they finished second in the Premier League. They’re not quite there, so that’s a big problem for Arteta.

“I think Arteta and Guardiola need it for completely different reasons, but I feel Arteta needs it more because he needs to put some silverware in the trophy cabinet.

“The general pressure is on Arteta, but it’s also fair to say that the short-term pressure is on Guardiola. It’s very important that City get this win to at least try to dampen Arsenal’s confidence. It will be really good for them in the last eight games of the season.”

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha says the win still has great significance for his former club.

He said: “City suffered the pain of defeat in the Champions League, but they can use that in the Carabao Cup final to express how much the exit to Real Madrid hurt them, and perhaps they will take that and use it at Wembley.”

“This is 100% a great occasion for them to bounce back, and being able to finish the last game before the international break and lift the trophy can change your view of the whole season massively.”