Manchester City set to encounter Arsenal in Carabao Cup, with potential for additional matchups.
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City and Arsenal are on a path that could determine the outcome of every significant trophy this season. Pep Guardiola secured a matchup with former assistant Mikel Arteta at Wembley following City’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle United in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semifinal second leg.
The final is scheduled for March 22, less than a month prior to a potential title showdown between the top two teams in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on April 18. With both clubs still competing in the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, there may be additional key matchups ahead.
A rivalry that has been intensifying since Arteta led Arsenal into title contention three years ago has all the elements necessary to escalate in the final months of the season. “It can happen,” Guardiola remarked. “Of course, we are going to play for the Carabao Cup already. I am uncertain about what will unfold in the Champions League, and the fixture in the Premier League is set.”
“When strong teams reach the latter stages, you might face them. I relish it, especially when finals are involved.”
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Guardiola has encountered similar situations before. In 2011, his Barcelona squad faced off against Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in three different competitions during the closing stages. Over 18 days in April and May, they met four times in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.
Guardiola lost the encounter in the Spanish cup final due to an extra-time goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, but he triumphed in the league and Champions League. A 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium kept Real Madrid at bay in the title race, allowing Barcelona to finish first by four points.
In the Champions League, Guardiola outperformed Mourinho over the two-legged semifinal, and Barcelona subsequently defeated Manchester United in the final. Filled with tension and rivalry, these matches solidified the Guardiola vs. Mourinho narrative as one of the great managerial contests.
Guardiola experienced a similar scenario in England. In 2022, there was the possibility of a thrilling finale between Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. They faced each other twice within six days in April for the Premier League and the FA Cup.
The league match at the Etihad ended in a 2-2 draw, and City went on to claim the title by a single point. Liverpool avenged this in the FA Cup semifinal, winning 3-2, but a long-anticipated Champions League final between Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp never occurred when City suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Real Madrid in the semifinals.
For City and Arsenal to create a similar climax, several factors must align. Notably, City needs to remain close to the top of the Premier League, as they currently sit six points behind.
One certainty is that if Arsenal aims to break a six-year trophy drought, Arteta must overcome his former mentor, the most accomplished manager of his era.
“It’s a valuable experience to face [a final] against perhaps the best team in Europe and the world for various reasons,” Guardiola stated. “… I believe it will be an extraordinary experience for all of us. We hope to arrive in March [with] everyone fit and ready to play a good match against them.”
“It’s not guaranteed. I understand how challenging it is [to reach Wembley]. In 10 years, making it to the Carabao Cup final five times is quite impressive. Top, top.”
City was so dominant against Newcastle that even their recent tendency for second-half struggles could not hinder their journey to Wembley. They led 3-0 at halftime — 5-0 on aggregate — and during the break, fans were busy booking hotels and trains on their phones.
Guardiola has already claimed this trophy four times, yet he clearly remains passionate about winning. He celebrated the second goal from Omar Marmoush — the decisive blow to Newcastle’s slim hopes — with the enthusiasm of a manager pursuing his first piece of silverware.
There is ongoing speculation that this might be his final season at the Etihad, and perhaps the emotion in his joyful screams and clenched fists was influenced by the knowledge that he will at least have one more cup final. Alternatively, it may have been unrelated. Regardless, standing on the sideline in the final moments, Guardiola appeared to relish the chants of “Wembley again, olé, olé” from the crowd.
This will mark his 11th cup final as City manager. Arteta is preparing for his second.
With the title also at stake, one manager is seeking what could be his perfect conclusion, while the other is aiming to initiate what he hopes will be his own era of dominance. The potential exists for a memorable conclusion.
The top two teams in England, led by two of the finest coaches in the world, are set to clash with everything on the line. Prepare for an exciting encounter.
