Arsenal vs Man City Prediction: Lineups, Odds and Stats

Arsenal will play Man City in the 2026 English Football League (EFL) Cup final. City won this trophy five times between 2016 and 2021. Now Pep Guardiola’s Man City face his former Assistant Manager Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in a crunch clash. Both teams strive for a psychological advantage ahead of their key PL clash on 19th April at the Etihad Stadium.

The Gunners are in sparkling form, but Man City have experienced mixed recent results, so Arsenal are favoured to win Sunday’s match, which kicks off at 4:30pm from Wembley Stadium.

Can Arsenal Win Long-awaited Silverware?

Arsenal are primed to lift the EFL Cup this Sunday. The Gunners can take confidence from 14 games without defeat, and their 5-1 thrashing of Man City in February 2025 is fresh in the memory.

Arsenal last won the League Cup in 1993 and are chasing their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020. This is their first step towards a possible quadruple. But Man City stands in their way, and they are still chasing three possible trophies themselves.

Finding Value In The EFL Cup Final

The odds point to an Arsenal win, and I agree with the bookmakers. The Gunners’ confidence is soaring, and at best-priced 2.38 they look solid value to win the EFL Cup final in 90 minutes.

Although Arsenal boast an excellent defensive record of 22 goals conceded in 31 league games, they have conceded in five of their last eight matches. Man City’s last five outings also saw both teams score, so the both teams to score odds could offer value at 1.73.

Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze has scored four goals in his last nine outings. You can back Eze to score against Man City at 4.33.

Erling Haaland tops the PL scoring charts with 22 goals. He scored against Real Madrid in midweek and has netted in his last three matches against Arsenal. You can get odds of 2.40 for Haaland to score at Wembley.

Best Predictions for the Match

My main prediction is for Arsenal to win this match. The Gunners are riding high on confidence, still competing on four fronts this season. They still top the PL League standings and are through to the Champions League last eight, and in the FA Cup sixth round. Mikel Arteta’s men are determined to secure the 2025/26 campaign’s first piece of silverware.

Heading into this EFL Cup final, Man City sit second in the PL table. But the Cityzens have just one win in five games. They crashed out of the Champions League after a 2-1 home defeat to Real Madrid. Their 3-0 first-leg defeat at Real Madrid shattered an 11-match unbeaten run (W9, D2). So, I can see them lacking the confidence to match Arsenal.

Both sides have scored and shipped plenty of goals in recent games. Although cup finals can be cagey, I can see both teams scoring.

Key Statistics

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 14 matches, including 11 wins.

Man City won four of the last ten head-to-head matches with Arsenal.

But the Cityzens haven’t beaten Arsenal in the last six meetings.

Seven of the last ten H2Hs ended with both teams scoring, including the last three.

Arsenal have lost their last three cup finals, including the 2018 EFL Cup final versus Man City (Pep Guardiola’s first trophy in English football).

Man City have won all their 2025-26 EFL Cup matches by at least two goals.

Predicted Lineups and Missing Players

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie – Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice – Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard – Viktor Gyokeres

Mikel Merino is still recovering from foot surgery, but Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber should be available for selection.

Man City (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias, Ait-Nouri – Nico Gonzalez, Rodri – Jeremy Doku, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki – Erling Haaland

Man City are without Josko Gvardiol (broken leg).

Arsenal To Break Trophy Drought

Arsenal will enjoy a long-overdue cup success as they sweep aside an inconsistent Man City. Expect goals at Wembley in a thrilling cup showpiece as Arsenal finally gain revenge for their 3-0 defeat to City in the 2018 final.

*Odds are subject to change.