CCF: Carabao Cup final preview

Carabao Cup final preview

Pep Guardiola is targeting a first trophy in English football when Manchester City take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

City's quadruple hopes were ended last Monday when they suffered a shock 1-0 loss at Wigan in the FA Cup, and Guardiola says his players are determined to learn from their mistakes in a bid to win the first silverware of the Spaniard's reign at the Etihad.

"We have to win titles to give more value to what we have done," he said. "In the beginning of August, we said we will be judged by how many we win. It is the same for the five or six big contenders.

"I don't like to lose competitions. What happened at Wigan, maybe I'd prefer to lose Premier League games than FA Cup, because now we've dropped a competition. But that's football, it has happened and we can just focus on the next one and try to get better. All we can do is learn from Wigan."

Meanwhile, Arsenal will be hoping to put right the wrongs of their 2011 League Cup final defeat to Birmingham. The Gunners were huge favourites ahead of the Wembley final seven years ago, but Obafemi Martins' 89th-minute winner secured the Blues an unlikely win.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his players are determined to learn from their defeat to Wigan when they face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.

And with the League Cup the only domestic trophy Arsene Wenger is yet to win, the Frenchman is keen to put that right on Sunday.

"Yes of course [I am eager to complete the domestic set]," Wenger said. "What counts for me is that we go into the final with absolute desire on winning and performing on the day.

"Everyone expects a very exciting game and I feel it will be. It's a good opportunity to show that we are at their level."

Aaron Ramsey is winning his battle to be fit for the final. The Wales international has missed the last three games with a groin injury but Wenger is confident he will now be ready to be involved at Wembley.

Mesut Ozil is also expected to be available after illness while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can play having been ineligible in the Europa League, but Alexandre Lacazette (knee) and Santi Cazorla (Achilles) are out and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is cup-tied.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is waiting to see if midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil will be fit to play in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

Raheem Sterling is a doubt for City because of an unspecified muscle injury.

Striker Gabriel Jesus (knee) could come into contention after almost two months out but a change will be required at left-back with Fabian Delph suspended. Oleksandr Zinchenko or Danilo could feature with Benjamin Mendy (knee) out long term.

Guardiola has confirmed Claudio Bravo will retain his place in goal having featured in all domestic cup matches this season.