Carabao Cup final lineups as key Arsenal and Man City stars left out | Football | Sport

Arsenal and Manchester City both have a number of selection dilemmas for Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola respectively, as they gear up for the Carabao Cup final. City will be without Marc Guehi, who is controversially cup-tied following his exploits for Crystal Palace in the competition. Antoine Semenyo, who also played for Bournemouth in the cup before joining City in January, is available, however.

The Gunners could be without a number of key players, with Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze joining Martin Odegaard on the treatment table. The trio did not train on Friday but will face late fitness tests to decide on their ability to play at Wembley. Here, our Express Sport writers pick our teams to play on Sunday.

To stick with Kepa or twist to Raya? That will be the question running around Arteta’s head before kick-off. There’s too much riding on this for Arsenal to take a risk, so that’s why Raya should be given the nod. Gyokeres has continually struggled in recent weeks, meaning Hazard should get the nod ahead of the Swede. Meanwhile, Martinelli to start from the off, with Madueke saved for an impact if necessary.

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

If he’s got any energy left after Wednesday night’s epic performance against Real Madrid, Khusanov should be straight into the starting XI. Cherki proved that City are a better team with him in the starting XI, but there’s no place for Doku. Guardiola explained last week that City don’t have stability when all three of Haaland, Doku and Cherki start.

Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait Nouri; Rodri, Silva, O’Reilly; Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland

Arteta said pre-match that there isn’t much of a dip in quality between Raya and Kepa, so the cup keeper gets the nod. Having been included in the Netherlands squad, Timber should pass a fitness test to start at right-back. The rest of the defence and the midfield virtually picks itself. The two trickier calls come at left wing and centre-forward. Trossard has started on the left in both of the last two meetings with City, and gets the nod over Martinelli. The fit-again Havertz replaces Gyokeres up top, for me, thanks to his unparalleled work rate out of possession.

Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Havertz

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Trafford, like Kepa, keeps his spot in goal as the cup keeper. Khusanov replaces the cup-tied Guehi. The two outfield changes from the midweek defeat to Real Madrid see O’Reilly replace Reijnders in midfield. The inconsistent Doku drops out for Semenyo. Captain Silva keeps his starting spot despite his first-ever career red card in Europe. Cherki HAS to start – he can be the maverick to unlock the stubborn Arsenal defence.

Trafford; Nunes, Dias, Khusanov, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly, Bernardo; Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland

Arteta actually has quite a few decisions to make. Stick with Kepa? Is Timber fit to start? Havertz or Gyokeres? Who starts on the left? Fortunately the Spanish boss has very few ‘poor’ options in his squad and any combination could well be enough to lift the trophy. But Kepa deserves to stay in, and I think Arteta will stick with the former Chelsea man. In attack is more interesting though. Havertz would be a nuisance to the City centre-backs, but to win a cup, you need a goalscorer – enter Gyokeres. And I think an hour of Madueke and then 30 minutes of Martinelli against tired legs could well decide the final against a City team out to dominate possession.

Kepa; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke

Unless Guardiola decides to overthink another final, a lot of the team picks itself. Khusanov deserves to come in for cup-tied Guehi and the other big decision is out wide. One of Cherki, Doku and Semenyo is likely to miss out and while he brings a secondary goalscorer to Haaland, Cherki and Doku are among the few players that can unpack this stubborn Arsenal defence. Even if Guardiola is reluctant to do so, it’s time to unleash both.

Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Silva, O’Reilly; Cherki, Doku, Haaland