Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday in the Carabao Cup, and looking at the gravity of the fixture, Arsenal cannot afford to lose.
Just like any football final, one team must win, and another must lose, and when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, Arsenal will be looking to get a win to end their trophy drought under Mikel Arteta.
3️⃣ more days! ⏳#EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/0lWUHYLMGk
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) March 19, 2026
The Gunners haven’t won any major trophy since Arteta won the FA Cup in the 2019/20 season. Although the Arsenal manager has picked up two Community Shields in 2020 and 2023, Arsenal fans are yearning for more, especially after finishing second in the Premier League three times in a row.
As they move into the Carabao Cup final, this season feels different. Arsenal are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the league. They are on course to win the Premier League for the first time in two decades and are still pushing for the quadruple.
While the Gunners push to make history for themselves, they cannot afford a loss against Manchester City, as it may have repercussions on their season. A loss could potentially dampen their belief and mentality entering the final phase of the season.
Following this Carabao Cup final, Arsenal will play Southampton in the FA Cup quarterfinals, immediately after the international break. They will then jump into the frenzy of the UEFA Champions League just three days later when they face Sporting Lisbon in the quarterfinals.
With fixtures still coming thick and fast, they will face Manchester City again in the Premier League in a tie that could still add color to the Premier League title race, depending on if City win their game in hand, avoid any dropped points, and if Arsenal somehow slip.
The Gunners need to go into this final without much pressure and play their football, win this trophy and carry on as they have done all season. The Carabao Cup will be an interesting clash and all eyes will be on Arsenal, regardless of the outcome.
