EFL Cup Final: Arsenal vs Manchester City - Can Arteta Break Trophy Drought

Mikel Arteta press conference 

Arsenal faces Manchester City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley. Mikel Arteta's side seeks to end six-year trophy drought, while Pep Guardiola's City aims for more silverware. Key players Odegaard and Timber are injury doubts for Arsenal.

“The fact we are never together and can never spend time together is important in our relationship...”

Mikel Arteta is urging his Arsenal players to seize the moment and prove they're winners when they face Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday. The Gunners are currently top of the Premier League, nine points ahead of City, and have favorable draws in the Champions League and FA Cup quarterfinals, making a quadruple look achievable.

Arteta acknowledges this is a defining moment for Arsenal, who have finished second in the Premier League three times in a row. He wants his team to shed their “nearly men” tag and show they're capable of winning major trophies. The Spaniard is confident his team can do it, saying, “We want it so much.”

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal has finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons, and he's aware they need to step up and prove themselves this time around. Arteta dismissed the notion that his team is prone to “bottling” the title, saying it's not part of his vocabulary and instead focusing on taking games one by one.

Defining moments. pic.twitter.com/p3VXOrmmdX

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 20, 2026

The Gunners are currently top of the league with 70 points, but Manchester City is closing in with 61 points and a game in hand. Arsenal's upcoming fixtures are packed, including the Carabao Cup final against City, which could be a crucial turning point in their season.

“It's going to be one of the defining moments because at the end of the day it is about whether you win the trophy or not,” the Spaniard said on Friday.

“That is the most important thing once you get to the final.

“But in order to be there you have to do a lot of things. There are a lot of things the team has done so far, but we need to prove that point, that's clear, and it has to be done on the pitch.”

Mikel Arteta has been turning Arsenal's fortunes around since he took the reins at the Emirates in 2019, leaving his role as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City. However, his trophy cabinet still only has one major win - the 2020 FA Cup, which was won at an empty Wembley due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Arteta's leadership has seen Arsenal become contenders again, but the pressure's on to deliver more silverware. The Spaniard is adamant his team can break their six-year trophy drought when they face Manchester City in Sunday's League Cup final.

Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta's relationship has evolved over time, but they've put any past differences aside as they clash in the League Cup final. Arteta is grateful for the experience he gained working under Guardiola at Manchester City, saying the feelings of admiration and respect haven't changed.

Their teams are vying for top honors in the Premier League, with Arsenal currently leading by nine points. The League Cup final could be a turning point, with Arteta seeking his first major trophy since 2020 and Guardiola aiming to add to his collection.

“The fact we are never together and can never spend time together is important in our relationship, but it is not the most important,” said Arteta.

“How I feel about him and the time we had together and what he did for me, the inspiration he's been... that is never going to change.”

Mikel Arteta is keeping his fingers crossed that captain Martin Odegaard and defender Jurrien Timber will be fit for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. Both players missed Arsenal's 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen due to injury, with Odegaard dealing with a knee issue and Timber struggling with an ankle problem.

Arteta also kept his cards close on the goalkeeper decision, refusing to confirm whether Kepa Arrizabalaga or David Raya would start between the sticks. He said they'll assess the players' fitness on Saturday and make a decision.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed James Trafford will start in goal for Manchester City in the EFL Cup final against Arsenal, having started all their domestic cup games this season. On the other hand, Arsenal's goalkeeper situation is uncertain, with Kepa Arrizabalaga and David Raya vying for the spot. Kepa has played most of Arsenal's cup games, but David Raya is their first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League and Champions League.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, hasn't revealed who will start between the sticks, making it a strategic mystery heading into the final.