The Manchester City EFL Cup final is set to be an exciting clash as Pep Guardiola’s team prepares to face Arsenal. Since Guardiola became manager in the 2016/17 season, City have reached more domestic finals than any other Premier League team, totalling nine appearances.
Fans across England and beyond are eagerly awaiting the Manchester City EFL Cup final, a thrilling showdown where Pep Guardiola’s side will go head-to-head with Arsenal in what promises to be one of the season’s most exciting matches.
The Citizens earned their place in the Manchester City EFL Cup final on Wednesday after beating Newcastle United 3-1 in the second leg of the semi-final. Their 5-1 victory over both legs secured their spot in the final and continued City’s impressive run this season. Guardiola’s team will turn their focus to Arsenal as they prepare for an exciting clash in the Manchester City EFL Cup final.
In March, Guardiola’s team will face Arsenal in the final. The London club reached the final after defeating Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in their semi-final tie, setting up an exciting showdown.
The Gunners will be favourites since they are at the top of the Premier League, but Manchester City have a much better record when it comes to reaching finals.
Under Pep Guardiola, City have now played in nine finals, while no other club has made it to more than eight in the same time. This experience could be very important when the two teams meet in March.
Arsenal Set To Face Manchester City in EFL Cup Final
Arsenal have booked their spot in the EFL Cup final after a 1-0 win in the second leg against Chelsea, giving them a 4-2 aggregate victory following their first-leg win at Stamford Bridge.
The first half was tight, with both teams finding it hard to create clear chances, and the score stayed 0-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Chelsea continued to struggle against Arsenal’s strong defence. As the Blues pushed forward near the end, Arsenal broke quickly and scored a late goal to secure the win, with Kai Havertz putting the ball in the net.
EFL Cup Final: Can Manchester City Stop Arsenal?
Looking ahead to the Manchester City EFL Cup final, City will need to be careful because Arsenal have been very strong defensively this season. The Gunners became the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to keep 20 clean sheets across all competitions, making them a tough side to break down.
When Manchester City played Arsenal at the Emirates in September 2025, the match ended 1-1. City looked set to win, but Arsenal scored a late goal in the 93rd minute to level the game.
City have also done well at the back, recording 16 clean sheets so far. However, they have allowed six more goals than Arsenal in 24 Premier League matches.
City have been stronger in attack, scoring 49 goals in the Premier League compared to 46 for their opponents. Arsenal have also struggled a little recently, failing to score in two of their last four league games.
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Will Pep Guardiola End the Manchester City EFL Cup Final on a High?
There have been several reports recently questioning how long Pep Guardiola will stay at Manchester City. If the 2025-26 season is his last in charge, he will want to finish his time with the club on a high note.
City have won all four EFL Cup finals under Guardiola, so even though Arsenal may be seen as favourites, history is on City’s side. If Guardiola leads the team to a fifth EFL Cup trophy, it would be a fitting way to end his time in England, especially since his first trophy as manager came in the same competition against Arsenal.
However, Guardiola’s future has been cast into doubt after City dropped points again in the Premier League. They drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, despite taking a 2-0 lead. The result left them six points behind league leaders Arsenal and raised questions about whether Guardiola can guide the team to the Premier League title this season.
Adding to the speculation, Xabi Alonso is reportedly on a three-man shortlist to replace Guardiola should he leave, keeping the focus on City’s future beyond their current manager.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
Recording Date: 04.02.2026
