rewrite this title Arsenal v Man City LIVE: Latest score and updates from Carabao Cup final

The Manchester City manager had indicated he was likely to pick his second-choice goalkeeper and has decided against going for Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma at Wembley, where he won Euro 2020.

Trafford, who was called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel on Friday, has played throughout City’s Carabao Cup run and excelled in the semi-final against Newcastle.

Pep Guardiola: “I’ve said before, of course winning helps but we could win on Sunday and then be bad in the league and go (in) the opposite (direction).

“I’ve learned that in many competitions, with many games with a short recovery time, you have to have the ability to forget and move forwards in good and bad moments. Learn what you have to do better.

“Today in modern football we have a lot of games, a lot of competitions mixed during the weeks and everything.

“Psychologically you have to be prepared in the good moments and continue, and in the bad moments forget it and always learn from victories and defeats.

“We have been to Wembley 21 times in semi-finals and finals, so being there is an honour and a big challenge.”

Mikel Arteta: “I’m really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen.

“When it comes to the crucial moments and when it comes to the moment to attack a trophy, take it and bring it home, that’s when you need to step up and make a difference.

“That’s why we are all very excited because we know what is at stake, and now it’s about the next step, the next game, and the fact that we are at the end of March and we are in four competitions tells a lot about the team.

“It’s one of the defining moments because at the end it’s whether you win the trophy or not. We need to prove that point. That’s clear. And that has to be done on the pitch.”

Arsenal: Kepa; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Man City: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Cherki, Doku; Semenyo, Haaland

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that James Trafford will start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, and there will be at least one enforced change as Marc Guehi is cup-tied. Erling Haaland, Rodri and Ruben Dias were among the players brought off during second half of the midweek defeat to Real Madrid, while Antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly will be pushing to return to the starting line-up. Josko Gvardiol remains absent.

Mikel Arteta was keeping his cards close to his chest when he discussed Arsenal’s team news but did not rule Jurrien Timber or Martin Odegaard out of contention. Arteta refused to say whether Kepa Arrizabalaga would keep his place in goal ahead of David Raya; the Arsenal No 2 goalkeeper has started every round of the Carabao Cup this season, including the semi-final win over Chelsea.

Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka appear certain to start, while Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard could also remain from the side that began the 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek. But Arteta will have to decide whether to go with Riccardo Calafiori or Piero Hincapie left back, as well as whether to stick with Ben White if Timber is available.

Viewers will have the choice of watching on ITV or Sky Sports. Coverage beings on ITV 1 at 3:30pm, with a live stream available on ITV X.

Sky begin their coverage on Sky Sports Football from 3:30pm, and coverage on Sky Sports Main Event starts from 4:15pm. Sky customers can also stream the match on Now TV.

The first silverware of the English football season will be decided when title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City meet in a blockbuster Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup but are on the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple under Mikel Arteta this season.

But Pep Guardiola’s team could deal Arsenal a blow with victory at Wembley, as they look to recover from their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.

City, who won the Carabao Cup four times in row under Guardiola between 2018 and 2021, also sit nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

It is a huge day for both sides, which could also set the tone ahead of further battles between Arteta and Guardiola’s teams this season.