Injury Blowouts and Cup Frustrations: City Brace for Wembley Showdown with Arsenal
22 March 2026
City hit by fresh setback hours before Arsenal showdown
Another absence complicates Guardiola's plans for the final.
City's defense will be stretched as they chase a domestic cup, while Arsenal aim to seize the moment and defend Wembley with a sharp, opportunistic approach tonight too.
Manchester City received a fresh setback just hours before the Arsenal clash, scheduled for this Sunday evening at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
According to The Athletic, captain Ruben Dias will miss the game with a hamstring injury.
This development comes at a critical moment, with City arriving at the final after their last-16 exit to Real Madrid.
Dias left the teams' meeting at halftime, fueling doubts about his availability for the final.
The Portuguese defender started on the bench against West Ham United after recurring hamstring problems that kept him out for eight games in early 2026, before returning.
Additionally, Josko Gavardiol will miss the final after fracturing his leg in January, racing against time to be fit before the season ends.
Prior to that, Guehi's absence had drawn Guardiola's ire, and the Dias setback threatens to heighten tensions.
The Spaniard voiced frustration with Carabao Cup rules in February after reaching the final against Newcastle United, saying: 'I hope we reach March with players in top shape and that organizers allow Mark Guehi to play in the final. It’s hard to understand a club paying a fee for a player and then denying participation. I hope we can persuade them to change the decision soon'.
And the rules, applied this season for the first time, state that any player signed after the first leg of the semi-final is ineligible for the rest of the tournament.
Guehi joined City on January 19, six days after City beat Newcastle in the away leg of the semi-final.
Notably, some players, such as Antoine Semenyo, have featured despite transfers, not bound by the same rule, though Semenyo previously played for Bournemouth against Brentford.
Punchline 1: Guardiola's playbook is so long it needs a passport and a restocking fee.
Punchline 2: If City win, the trophy will come with a warranty and a televised apology.
Punchline 3: Chaos for the win.
