Pep Guardiola slammed a Carabao Cup rule which could prove costly in the final against Arsenal
Pep Guardiola will be without Marc Guehi when Man City face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola was left furious after Marc Guehi was ruled out of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final clash with Arsenal. City will battle the Gunners at Wembley Stadium this Sunday as the two sides try to get their hands on the first piece of silverware up for grabs this season.
The fixture makes for a tantalising prospect given the two clubs are also engaged in a Premier League title race this season, which Arsenal are leading by nine points. Guardiola’s men also have to cope with the psychological blow of crashing out of the Champions League in midweek following a crushing last-16 defeat to Real Madrid, while Mikel Arteta’s side progressed to the quarter-finals.
Guardiola may also feel his team are going into the cup final at a disadvantage as EFL rules prevent central defender Marc Guehi from playing against the north Londoners in the 4.30pm fixture. Guehi was signed from Crystal Palace in January, after he had already faced Arsenal for the Eagles in the quarter-finals of the same competition back in December.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
Carabao Cup rules, implemented for the first time this season, state if a player is signed after the first leg of the semi-final, he is ineligible to play in the remainder of the competition.
Guardiola, who famously won the competition a record four years in a row, took issue with the rule back in February. Speaking out after City had booked their place in the final, the manager said he could not “understand” it and that he hoped City would write to the EFL to appeal for his £20m defender to be available to face Arsenal.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola’s Man City future to be announced within days as plan set ahead of Arsenal finalREAD MORE: Arsenal legend Ian Wright to appear on Sky and ITV coverage of Carabao Cup final
He said: “Hopefully in March, we can arrive with the players fit and hopefully you can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc Guehi can play in the final. Because it’s difficult to understand that the club who make a big investment to pay one player who belongs to us and I don’t understand why he cannot play the final.
“So, hopefully we write a letter, and hopefully the Carabao Cup can understand. He’s not able to play for a rule that I don’t understand why. Hopefully, they can change it.”
Guehi captained Crystal Palace when they were knocked out of the competition by Arsenal in December(Image: Getty Images)
City’s appeals, however, were ultimately unsuccessful, meaning Guardiola will have to rely on his other options. With Josko Gvardiol injured, Guardiola still has Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov available.
He last lifted the trophy in 2021, while Arsenal’s last success in the competition came back in 1993. Arteta will hope to land his second piece of silverware since taking charge of the Gunners, having only won the FA Cup in his first season.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£43
£35
Sky
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.