Arsenal vs Manchester City Prediction: This one might need extra-time…

The first trophy available to Premier League teams this season will go to one of Arsenal or Manchester City who meet in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday (16:30, live on ITV).

Our man Dan Tracey is on-hand with his Arsenal vs Manchester City predictions - as well as the latest odds, team news, predicted lineups and stats.

The first major silverware of the season is on offer on Sunday as the Carabao Cup final takes place at Wembley. The top two teams in the Premier League square off at the home of English football but is there more than silverware at stake when Mikel Arteta faces compatriot Pep Guardiola?

In the past, an outright win in this competition can act as the springboard to even better things at the end of the season – something that Manchester City have benefitted from in the past. Can a Wembley win serve as a much-needed launchpad or will victory for Arsenal turbocharge their Premier League title tilt?

Arsenal vs Manchester City Odds

Arsenal are priced as favourites at 11/8 to win this game, with Manchester City the slight underdogs at 2/1. That gives the Emirates outfit an implied win probability of 42.1% while a draw can be backed at 12/5.

BTTS has been priced at 8/11 and over 2.5 goals is 5/6, while Erling Haaland is the favourite to score first at 4/1.

Team News

This competition is usually designated for reserve goalkeepers in the early rounds. The ideal opportunity to offer rare minutes to the backup number 1’s but what happens if a team reaches the Carabao Cup final? Does a manager stick with the player who got him to Wembley or revert to full strength in a bid to win silverware?

The answer for both Manchester City and Arsenal is that their able deputies have been given the nod. James Trafford and Kepa Arrizabalaga each given the news they are starting on Sunday, the latter may be needed for penalty saving duties if a deadlock cannot be broken.

Should that be the case, it may mean Erling Haaland has drawn a blank. That said, the Norwegian is fit to start after being subbed off in midweek as Manchester City’s Champions League bid was brought to a screeching halt by Real Madrid.

No such European woe for opponents Arsenal and although there is change in terms of goalkeeping personnel, Mikel Arteta is expected to make no changes to the 10 outfield players that started against Bayer Leverkusen – a decision that sees Martin Odegaard only making the bench.

Draw @ 9/4

Mixed results in Europe in midweek, but I think Arsenal and Manchester City are going to have the same result after 90 minutes on Sunday. Stalemate at Wembley unlocking the need for extra-time and the longer the game goes on, the more this will likely play into the hands of Mikel Arteta’s men.

I would give the Gunners the nod to get the job done in the end, be that via 30 extra minutes or a shootout from 12 yards, but I just have a feeling that these two sides will go toe-to-toe in regulation time.

City will be keen to prove a point by beating the league leaders. Arsenal will be keen to prove they truly are the best in the land. A cancellation of their respective forces - a draw at full-time.

Erling Haaland to score anytime @ 13/10

Erling Haaland returned to the scoresheet in the midweek Champions League defeat to Real Madrid - perfect timing before the weekend’s Carabao Cup final - and Arsenal may be the perfect opposition to continue this burgeoning scoring run. He's already scored five goals past them, after all.

Add two assists and it averages out at a goal contribution per Premier League game against the Gunners. Yes, this is the EFL Cup final and there may need to be a small amount of artistic license, but due to his slight drought there is perhaps more value than you would expect. Anything above even money and this bet is definitely worth consideration.

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