We face Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, and you can see what we’ve been up to at the Sobha Realty Training Centre ahead of the contest with our latest training gallery.

We’ll be looking to continue our positive form having won our last three matches across all competitions, including a late 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals last time out.

Our most recent Premier League game saw us thrash Leeds United 4-0, a result which extended our lead at the top of the table to six points.

To see how we’ve been preparing for our clash with the Black Cats, flick through our training gallery below, captured by club photographer Stuart MacFarlane:

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Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.

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Today

Today

📅 Date & Kick-off

The Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City is scheduled for Sunday, 22 March 2026 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. �

Wikipedia

Kick-off is expected to be around 4:30 pm GMT (16:30 GMT), although final broadcaster confirmation may adjust this slightly. �

The Standard

🏆 Match Context

Arsenal reached the final by beating Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in their semi-final. �

Reuters

Manchester City progressed with a 5-1 aggregate win over Newcastle United. �

Sky Sports

📺 How to Watch

In the UK the final is expected to be shown on Sky Sports and free-to-air via ITV/ITVX, with pre-match coverage typically starting about an hour before kick-off. �

The Standard

📰 Team News & Injury Updates

Arsenal

Mikel Merino is a major doubt for the final as he’s expected to be out for an extended period undergoing foot surgery. �

Yahoo Sports UK

Decisions like goalkeeper choice (Kepa Arrizabalaga vs David Raya) may hinge on form later in the season. �

Yahoo Sports UK

Arsenal’s squad situation could evolve through Premier League and European fixtures between now and March.

Manchester City

Key players such as Josko Gvardiol are likely to miss the final due to injury. �

Yahoo Sports UK

Some others – including John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho – are expected to be available. �

Yahoo Sports UK

Marc Guehi is currently ineligible to play in the final under competition rules after appearing for another club earlier in the tournament; Pep Guardiola has publicly questioned this rule. �

Reuters

⚠️ Note: Team news and injury status will be clearer closer to matchday as clubs confirm their squads, fitness, and starting line-ups.

📌 Summary

Final: Arsenal vs Manchester City (Carabao Cup final)

Date: Sunday 22 March 2026

Kick-off: ~4:30 pm GMT (subject to broadcaster confirmation)

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London �

The Standard +1

If you want the local kickoff time for your time zone (Abuja/Nigeria) or predictions for the starting line-ups once confirmed, just let me know!

Gunners hit by shock new blow ahead of Chelsea showdown in Carabao Cup semi-final decider

Saka remained a doubt to face Chelsea and it was subsequently confirmed that he would miss out, with reports claiming that he was aiming to be back in time for the north London derby away to arch-rivals Tottenham on February 22 – meaning he will likely stay sidelined for the league games against Sunderland and Brentford as well as the visit of third-tier strugglers Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round.

Asked about Saka again ahead of the second leg, Arteta told Sky Sports: “He’s okay, we need to have more tests tomorrow to understand how he is. This game was too short. Let’s hope that it’s not too much.”

Potential return date: Sunday February 22, vs Tottenham (A)

Martin Odegaard

Skipper Odegaard was named on the bench at Leeds amid a run of disappointing form as the fit-again Havertz got the nod in midfield instead in something of a selection surprise, though impressed in his cameo off the bench and laid on a late assist for Gabriel Jesus.

He looked set to return to Arsenal’s starting lineup against Chelsea, but turned out to be a shock omission from the matchday squad entirely.

Struggle: Odegaard has already dealt with knee and shoulder injuries this season

Action Images via Reuters

“During the game [against Leeds], he felt a little niggle,” Arteta explained before facing Chelsea. “We tried yesterday, he wasn’t comfortable.

“So let’s see if he’s available for the weekend [against Sunderland], hopefully.”

Potential return date: Saturday February 7, vs Sunderland (H)

Mikel Merino

Merino was suspended for Arsenal’s recent Champions League dead-rubber game against Kairat, but did not train either side of that fixture to indicate a problem and was not even on the bench at Leeds.

Arteta subsequently revealed that the versatile midfielder had injured a bone in his right foot and would need specialist opinion to determine how long he would miss.

Arsenal then confirmed on Sunday night that Merino would undergo surgery and be sidelined “for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season”.

“He needs to go through a procedure, which is not always positive,” Arteta said in his pre-Chelsea press conference. “He’s a big player for us, a player that has such versatility and capacity to compete in various positions, and that’s a big blow.



Uncertain: It remains to be seen if Merino will play again this season

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“It’s a very rare injury so we have to wait and see once we have the surgery, how that reacts daily, obviously monitor it throughout the week for the surgery and see.

“I know Mikel is going to do absolutely everything that he possibly can to come back as quick as possible.

“But as well you have to respect the healing process and the fact that obviously it’s an injury that is quite rare.”

A further update was provided on Tuesday by Merino’s father Miguel, who told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: “Despite the problem, he’s accepting the situation.

“Injuries never come at a good time and a player has to be prepared for whatever comes.

“It’s tough but we have to look on the bright side. There are much worse injuries than this one.

“There’s uncertainty because the recovery time isn’t well understood as there’s no history of this type of injury.

“It’s a stress fracture. It’s not an injury to the toes, it’s a bit more internal.

“It’s an injury that isn’t very well documented. There are many doubts regarding his recovery.”

Arteta’s suggestion that Merino’s injury could lead Arsenal to make a late signing on transfer deadline day did not come to fruition in the end.

Potential return date: Unknown

Max Dowman

Arsenal have been without teenage sensation Dowman since he damaged ankle ligaments while playing in an Under-21s friendly against Manchester United at St George’s Park last month.

During his layoff, he signed a pre-agreement for a professional contract that will become official when he turns 17 in December.

Reports claimed that Dowman faced two months out, which would put him on track to return this month – a timeframe which appeared to be backed up by Arteta’s most recent update before the win at Leeds.



Star in the making: Max Dowman recently committed his future to Arsenal

Getty Images

“It will be a little bit more than [Cristhian] Mosquera’s [ankle injury],” Arteta said. “Obviously, he’s growing, and we need to be very careful and a little bit more protective.

“He has a different schedule as well because he needs to go to school, so we need to respect a lot of things throughout that process. But I think he’s quite close.

“He’s on the pitch now, he’s doing well and hopefully we’re going to be able to see him soon.”

Potential return date: February