Manchester City and Arsenal’s EFL Cup final clash at Wembley is loaded with history and intriguing stats.
City have won eight of their nine League Cup finals, with only Liverpool (10) lifting the trophy more often. The Citizens are on a remarkable run, triumphing in each of their last seven finals since their 1974 defeat to Wolves.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have spread the goals around this season, eight different scorers in the competition, none more than once, a tally only bettered in 1987/88 when nine players found the net.
The Gunners will be wary of City’s record in major finals. Pep Guardiola’s side beat them in the 2018 League Cup final, and only Newcastle United (1932, 1952 FA Cup) and Leeds United (1968 League Cup, 1972 FA Cup) have previously beaten Arsenal in two major finals.
Individual battles add spice to the occasion.
Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last three games against Arsenal but is still searching for his first goal at Wembley after six appearances. Rayan Cherki has been electric in the competition, with three goals and one assist in just 188 minutes, averaging a goal involvement every 47 minutes.
For Arsenal, Eberechi Eze could make history by becoming only the third player to score against the same opponent in both an FA Cup and League Cup final, after Roberto Di Matteo and Didier Drogba.
He has either scored (2) or assisted (1) in each of his last three appearances against City. Gabriel Martinelli has also contributed in each of his last three games against the champions, with one goal and two assists.
Midfield control could be decisive. Since joining City in 2019, Rodri has lost just once in 14 meetings with Arsenal, the FA Cup semi-final in 2019/20. Interestingly, each of the last four encounters he has played in has ended level.
