Manchester City V Arsenal Carabao Cup Final Predictions & Betting Odds

Manchester City v Arsenal Betting Preview – Carabao Cup Final 25th February 4.30pm

The first piece of domestic silverware will be settled on Sunday in England, and will it be the first piece of many that the Citizens will be picking up this season? Pep Guardiola’s men are favourites to get the win on the board and they have taken the EFL Cup title in two of the last four seasons. Arsenal haven’t won this cup since the 1993 season but can they pull off a repeat of their Wembley success over City in the FA Cup semi-finals last season, especially after having seen get dumped out of the FA Cup on Monday?

Manchester City v Arsenal Carabao Cup Final Betting Tips

Arsenal’s build-up for the League Cup final has been kind, as they have only had to go through a couple of games in the Europa League against Ostersunds. Overall though this has been something of a difficult season for Arsenal by their usual high standards and a big part of the problem has been a leaky defence. It is hard to see them digging in for 90 minutes and keeping the Citizens off the scoresheet. Both teams to score at Bet365 for the fixture brings a price of 8/13* (betting odds taken a 9:33 p.m. on February 19th, 2018). Arsenal won their first three ties in the EFL Cup this season by one goal margin, knocking off Doncaster, Norwich and West Ham at the Emirates. Then came their epic semi-final duel over two legs against rivals Chelsea.

After a 0-0 draw at the Bridge, Arsenal took their chances back on home soil with a 2-1 win. However, they haven’t done so well in games away from the Emirates this season at all. They have just a W1 D2 L4 record in their last seven away from North London and have earned just one clean sheet in their last eight road games. The influential Aaron Ramsey is likely to miss through injury, but Arsenal have a bright new hope up front after the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who will give the City defence something new to contend with. Arsenal’s best plan of attack in the game may be just to attack as they know that they are going to be under tremendous pressure at the back.

The quadruple has gone for Manchester City followed a shock upset in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday evening. The Citizens went to League One side Wigan and fell to a 1-0 defeat having played the entire second half with only ten men. So that was a huge blow to their ambitions, but still, they are the cream of the crop in the country and it gives them around a week’s rest before stepping out at Wembley. At Wembley with all the space that they will enjoy on the pitch, you know they are going to enjoy plenty of position and create chances, so over 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 8/15* (betting odds taken a 9:33 p.m. on February 19th, 2018). One wonders if their FA Cup exit will have them even more fired up for this one.

Much like Arsenal, the slip-ups that City have had this season have been out on the road. With the defeat at Wigan, Manchester City have gone just W3 D2 L2 in their last seven fixtures away from the comfort of the Etihad in all competitions. It hasn’t been as easy of a run for City as Arsenal have had in the EFL Cup, as the Citizens faced Premier League opponents West Brom in their first game, before duelling with Championship title-favourites Wolves and then back to Premier League opposition in Leicester. City netted a penalty shootout win over Wolves and the Foxes to get through. Then they had that fantastic scrap with Championship side Bristol City in the semi finals, the Citizens winning through 5-3. The thing about City is that they have an enviable array of talent and more of it to call off the bench as needed than Arsenal do.

Manchester City v Arsenal Head to Head

City took a 3-1 home win over the Gunners in the Premier League this season, however in last season’s’ FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Arsenal won 2-1 after extra time. The Gunners also won the 2014 Community Shield at Wembley against City as well. The last time that the two of them met in the League Cup was back in November 2011 with Man City taking a 1-0 away win. From Previous league cup meetings, Arsenal are 5-2 up with one drawn match.

Each of the last six meetings between these two have seen both teams score and Arsenal have actually scored exactly two goals in six of their last eight games against Manchester City. The Gunners are W3 D3 L2 in their last eight fixtures against the Citizens. Each of the last three draws between them have all been 2-2 results.

League Cup Stats

Arsenal have won the title twice, 1987 and 1993. They have lost five other finals.
Manchester City have won the title four times, 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016 and have only lost one final which was in 1974
If City win they will join Chelsea, Aston Villa and Man Utd as the joint second-most successful club in the history of the competition.
Liverpool are the most successful side ever having won it eight times.

Manchester City v Arsenal Carabao Cup Final Betting Odds*

Manchester City 8/13, Draw 16/5, Arsenal 9/2* (betting odds taken at 10:30 p.m. on February 19th, 2018)src=”https://www.online-betting.me.uk/teams/manchester-city.jpg” alt=”Manchester City” title=”Manchester City © GEPA pictures”