3 non-negotiable starters as Mikel Arteta's Arsenal target Carabao Cup glory

Will Arsenal's excruciating wait for silverware finally come to an end on Sunday? It is almost six years since Mikel Arteta hoisted the FA Cup aloft at an eerily empty Wembley in the midst of the pandemic, during which time the Gunners have made so much progress, but do not yet have the silverware to show for it. Still in with a shout of four trophies this season, it could be a season to remember for Gooners worldwide, starting with Sunday's Carabao Cup Final against Manchester City.

Arsenal have only ever won the League Cup twice, doing so in '87 and '93, beaten in six finals, a competition record, including each of the last three, a sequence they'll be hoping comes to an end.

In terms of team selection, there are six guaranteed starters; William Saliba, Gabriel, Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze as the ten, given that Martin Ødegaard is, at best, only fit enough to feature off the bench. At full-back, either Riccardo Calafiori or Piero Hincapié could get the nod on the left, while Arteta will be hoping Jurriën Timber is able to return on the right.

This leaves three positions up for grabs, so who should Arteta go for in this monumental match?

3 non-negotiable starters for Arsenal vs Man City

David Raya

A morale quandary facing both managers on Sunday is who to start in goal; this is the first thing to look for when the team news drops. Will Pep Guardiola stick with James Trafford or call upon Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Arteta has a near-identical scenario to ponder?

Summer signing Kepa Arrizabalaga has played all five EFL Cup ties so far, keeping three clean sheets as well as saving Maxence Lacroix's spot-kick to oust Crystal Palace on penalties in December. So, should he keep his place, or could compatriot David Raya come in?

Well, the 30 year old has proven himself as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet this season, enjoying 21 shutouts in just 40 outings, making countless astonishing saves, most-recently doing so to deny Christian Kofane of Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. Given the importance of this final, Arteta should opt for Raya, but is likely to stick with Kepa, so will this back-fire?

Well, fair to say, Arrizabalaga has a history in EFL Cup Finals. Sunday could be his third, having lost both to date, both following penalty shootouts. In the 2019 final, also against Man City, Kepa famously refused to be substituted, Maurizio Sarri wanting to bring on Willy Caballero ahead of spot-kicks. Three years later, after a goalless draw with Liverpool, Kepa failed to save any of the Reds' 11 penalties before skying his own attempt high into the London night sky. So, can Arsenal win the League Cup while their world-class goalkeeper watches on? We'll seemingly find out.

Leandro Trossard

Throughout this season, Arsenal's left-wing spot has been up for grabs, and it remains tough to predict if Arteta will go for Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli once again. After hobbling off at Mansfield, the Belgian returned on Tuesday night, attempting five shots against Bayer Leverkusen, of which three were on target, unable to find a way past an inspired Janis Błaswich.

Martinelli, meanwhile, tends to be who Arteta favours in big games, knowing that he can rely on his energy and work rate, if not always his decisiveness in the final third. Having said that, the Brazilian has twice scored crucial goals against Manchester City, his deflected strike snatching victory at the death in October 2023, before pinching a point with an audacious late lob earlier in this campaign.

Nevertheless, in a game where chances are likely to be at a premium, Arteta should give Trossard the nod. The Belgian was in excellent goal-scoring form earlier this year and, despite the fact that these have dried up, tends to be the more clinical of the pair. He also has three career goals against Man City to his name, including a stoppage-time equaliser in the 2023 Community Shield, which Arsenal would win on penalties a few minutes later. This selection decision, though, could go either way.

Kai Havertz

While the other two spots discussed are up in the air, we might have an inkling who Arteta is going to select in attack. Kai Havertz's Arsenal debut came in a Community Shield against Manchester City deployed as a centre-forward, with a similar blueprint likely to be utilised. The German, who has been dealing with persistent injury issues for over a year now, led the line against Everton last Saturday, potentially as a dry run ahead of Wembley.

This would, possibly harshly, leave Viktor Gyökeres in reserve, but he has certainly shown himself capable of being a super-sub; his winner a week ago exhibit A. Just last May, the Swede scored a penalty in the 11th minute of injury time to force extra time as Sporting ultimately beat fierce rivals Benfica in the Taça de Portugal final in Oeiras. While Gooners will hope Sunday is not quite as nerve-jangling, even if he is on the bench at 4:30, Gyökeres will certainly have a role to play, but him off the bench with Havertz starting appears to be the right combination.