Arsenal eye historic treble as they face Manchester City in Carabao Cup final at Wembley

Arsenal will take on Manchester City in the 2026 Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium after both sides booked their places with commanding semi-final performances.

City secured their spot with an emphatic aggregate victory over Newcastle United. In the first leg on January 13, Pep Guardiola’s side claimed a 2–0 away win, with Antoine Semenyo opening the scoring in the second half and Ryan Cherki sealing the victory with a last-minute goal.

The second leg at the Etihad Stadium saw City crush any hopes of a Newcastle comeback. Omar Marmoush struck twice in the 7th and 29th minutes, while Tijjani Reijnders added a third in the 33rd to secure a 3–1 win, sending City through to Wembley in dominant style.

Arsenal, meanwhile, overcame Chelsea across two legs to reach the final. The first leg at Stamford Bridge on January 14 was a thrilling 3–2 victory for the Gunners. Ben White, Victor Gyökeres, and Martín Zubimendi were on target for Arsenal, while Alejandro Garnacho’s double for Chelsea kept the tie alive.

The return leg at the Emirates Stadium was tense, with Arsenal under early pressure and the home crowd creating a hostile atmosphere. Chelsea dominated possession after the break, pushing for a decisive goal, but the Gunners held firm. In stoppage time, former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz rounded the goalkeeper to score the only goal, sealing Arsenal’s progression and sparking jubilant celebrations as he pointed to the club badge.

The victory marks Arsenal’s first Carabao Cup final in 36 years and their first shot at the trophy since 1993. By contrast, Manchester City have been a consistent force in the competition over the past five seasons, lifting the trophy in 2020 and 2021 and regularly reaching the semi-finals.

Arsenal’s return to Wembley strengthens their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts this season. With the club still competing strongly in the Premier League and other cup competitions, the final raises genuine hopes of a potential treble. While achieving such a feat remains challenging, this milestone underscores the growing belief that Mikel Arteta’s side can convert promise into tangible trophies.

The final will also see a fascinating managerial clash, with Arteta facing his former mentor Pep Guardiola on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium—a much-anticipated showdown that will decide who lifts the Carabao Cup this season.