Arsenal vs Man City LIVE: Carabao Cup final updates from Wembley showpiece

Arsenal and Manchester City clash in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

City boss Pep Guardiola is looking to claim his first major piece of silverware since coming to England while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is chasing the only domestic trophy he’s not won.

City’s audacious quadruple dreams were shattered on Monday as they crashed to a shock loss to Wigan in the FA Cup.

It remains to be seen how they react to the setback but today can still be the springboard for much more success to come. Beware the wounded beast.

Arsenal are also heading into the game on the back of a disappointing result having been beaten at home by Swedish minnows Ostersund.

The Gunners still progressed on aggregate from the Europa League tie, but it should serve as another wake-up call.

ARSENAL 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY

39: Mesut Ozil complete the hat-trick of free-kicks that completely miss everyone in the box. Congratulations.

38: Bosh! Vincent Kompany rolls back the years with a terrific recovery challenge to prevent Aubameyang from pulling the trigger. Looked for all the world that the ex-Dortmund striker would get a shot off.

35: Want some hope, Arsenal fans? Well, Arsenal have come from a goal down to win 2-1 in both of their previous League Cup final triumphs.

That sounded more helpful in my head…

33: That would have been a memorable equaliser for Jack. The midfielder latches onto Aubameyang’s knock-down before slicing it miles over the bar.

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Wembley

29: That’s a rarity for City this season – a route one goal!

A long Bravo goal-kick, a little nudge by Aguero on Mustafi and the Argentinian was left with a clear run on goal before lobbing Ospina for his 199th for City.

VAR ref Neil Swarbrick looked at it and decided there wasn’t enough in the ‘nudge’ to disallow the goal despite the protests of Mustafi and Wenger.

Another blow for the Gunners is that Monreal is off after picking up a knock and Kolasinac is on at left wing-back.

28: That’s the last thing Arsenal need. Nacho Monreal has been forced off with an injury. Sead ‘BEAST’ Kolasinac replaces him.

I seem to remember Kolasinac scoring here against Chelsea in August’s Community Shield…

25: Sergio Aguero has scored in each of his last five games in all competitions against Arsenal; against no other side has he netted in more successive appearances for Manchester City.

23: Arsenal look to hit back immediately but Aaron Ramsey’s low free-kick skids under the all and Bravo collects. Bellerin then grabs himself a booking for pushing Kevin De Bruyne to the floor.

20: Drama! Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger are having it out on the sidelines! No idea what started it but they are livid.

I think Arsene Wenger thinks Aguero fouled Mustafi in the build-up to Aguero’s opener, but in reality it was just a horrendous piece of defending.

ARSENAL 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY – AGUERO

19: Guess who? Yep, Sergio Aguero has made the breakthrough with the one of the simplest goals he’ll ever score. I think it was a Bravo assist!

The goalkeeper punts it long and Mustafi completely misjudges the header. His mistake allows the Argentine to race through and lob the onrushing Ospina.

First blood to City.

18: Arsenal gradually gaining a foot-hold here at Wembley. They are trying to play their way through midfield instead of punting it long for Aubameyang to chase.

City hearts in mouths as the ball is played back to Bravo, who decides to do a song and dance before clearing.

15: Nacho Monreal flies to the deck in dramatic fashion inside the Manchester City penalty area. He quickly jumps to his feet when he realises referee Craig Pawson isn’t interested. Lucky to avoid a booking for simulation.

12: Arsenal haven’t really been able to keep the ball for any significant amount of time. City bossing things in midfield as the Gunners retreat deeper and deeper.

9: You’re joking! How on earth haven’t Arsenal scored? It’s a simple ball over the top and Aaron Ramsey lays it wide for Mesut Ozil, who decides to cross instead of shoot. Aubameyang gets a toe on it but Bravo makes the save.

Seconds later Aguero shoots into the side-netting having been sent through by Silva.

5: If you’ve seen any Manchester City match this season you’ll have a fair idea of how things have started here. City seeing virtually 100 per cent possession as Arsenal hunker down.

3: I’m a real sucker for a final. Think I might have gone overboard wearing a tuxedo though…

Anyway, City are straight into the ascendancy with Leroy Sane seeing an angled volley deflected wide by Aaron Ramsey.

1: We’re underway folks! Remember that we’ve got VAR in operation today. I’m sure that won’t steal the headlines…

PLEASE STAND…

16:28: Here comes the national anthem. Couldn’t have done it better myself. Tone deaf you see…

16:27: What a day for a final! The players are currently going through the formalities of shaking hands with every sponsor under the sun.

Bet they love doing that…

YELLOW RIBBON…

16:23: Pep Guardiola has risked controversy by arriving at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final wearing the yellow ribbon which this week brought a disciplinary charge.

The Manchester City manager was charged by the Football Association on Friday for “wearing a political message” having been sporting the symbol at matches in recent months.

Guardiola has previously said the item shows his support for politicians imprisoned in his native Catalonia following October’s unofficial independence referendum.

Guardiola has ignored two warnings from the FA, with the governing body considering the matter a potential breach of kit and advertising regulations.

Analysis from our reporter Matt Dunn, at Wembley

16:20: Arsene Wenger plans to stop Manchester City with an out-of-form player playing in a formation that he does not like and which the team have not used since in their last seven matches.

Calum Chambers scored one own goal and was at fault for the second against Ostersunds on Thursday and yet has bolstered a return to a back three despite Wenger saying in December that four-at-the-back was his “preferred system”.

He nevertheless stuck with a trio up until the 4-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace, but clearly feels the extra man at the centre can work again as it did at Wembley in last season’s semi-final against City in April.

As well as offering more protection it does mean he can accommodate fit-again Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey in a side that will need plenty of invention if it is to hurt City enough in 90 minutes this afternoon.

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Wembley

16:15: Gabriel Jesus’s return on the bench after 12 games out is a major boost for City. But the bad news for them is that Raheem Sterling has failed to late fitness test on his hamstring injury and is not in the squad.

Guardiola has preferred to go with the experience of skipper Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi in the centre of his defence ahead of John Stones and new boy Aymeric Laporte, who are both on the bench.

And despite Danilo’s recent defensive vulnerability, the Brazilian utility man has got the nod over Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back.

As expected, Claudio Bravo – who has played in every domestic cup game this season – is in goal with No 1 Ederson on a bench that in total is worth over £200m.

Of those seven subs , Zinchenko cost only £1.7m while Phil Foden is home-grown.

LINE-UPS

16:10: Here are the line-ups for today’s final folks. No Raheem Sterling but Jesus completes his miraculous recovery to take a place on the bench.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Chambers, Monreal, Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Aubameyang.

Subs: Cech, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Welbeck.

Manchester City XI: Bravo, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Danilo, Fernandinho, Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sane, Aguero.

Subs: Ederson, Stones, Laporte, Bernardo, Zinchenko, Foden, Jesus.

ARSENAL vs MANCHESTER CITY – TEAM NEWS

Aaron Ramsey is winning his battle to be fit.

The Wales international has missed the last three games with a groin injury but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident he will now be ready to be involved at Wembley.

Mesut Ozil is also expected to be available after illness while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can plan having been ineligible in the Europa League – meanwhile Alexandre Lacazette (knee) and Santi Cazorla (Achilles) are out and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is cup-tied.

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling is OUT of the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Striker Gabriel Jesus (knee) could come into contention after almost two months out but a change will be required at left-back with Fabian Delph suspended. Oleksandr Zinchenko or Danilo could feature with Benjamin Mendy (knee) out long term.

Manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Claudio Bravo will retain his place in goal having featured in all domestic cup matches this season.

STREAM DETAILS

Carabao Cup final live stream

The final will be broadcast live on Sky Sports’ main event and football channels (Sky 401 and 403, Virgin Media 511 and 513, BT TV 402 SD and 437 HD). It can also be streamed live online via Sky Go.

A highlights package will also be broadcast on Sky’s football-only channel at 9:45pm.