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Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City

  • Sorry Gunners thrashed at Wembley as City secure the first trophy of the season.
  • Sergio Aguero opened the scoring in the first half before Vincent Kompany and David Silva added second-half strikes during Arsenal's capitulation.
  • Arsenal and City meet again in the Premier League on Thursday.
Vincent Kompany
Getty

Full-time: Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City

Three minutes of added time to go at Wembley. Arsenal need to be put out of their misery.

Aguero comes off to a standing ovation to make way for 17-year-old Phil Foden, who gets a late cameo at Wembley.

Granit Xhaka has just slid a simple pass straight out for a throw in. That's Arsenal in a nut shell today.

Aubameyang plays a clever reverse pass through for Iwobi who looks the favourite to reach the ball before Bravo. The City goalkeeper gets their first, sliding in to clear the ball.

Lots and lots of Arsenal fans are heading for the exits. There's 12 minutes left on the clock but this has been over for a while.

And it gets easier for Arsenal' Gabriel Jesus comes on to make his first appearance of 2018, replacing Sane.

Arsenal, for the first time all afternoon, win the ball high up the pitch, allowing Xhaka to take on an early shot from distance. It's comfortably over Bravo's cross bar, however.

Another change for Arsenal, Alex Iwobi on for Ramsey.

Danny Welbeck is on for the Gunners to replace Chambers. It won't matter, Arsenal have given up here.

David Silva is now in on the act! The Spaniard latches onto a threaded through ball from Bernardo Silva and drills across goal into the bottom corner past Ospina. Arsenal defenders stood and watched as he broke into space in the box.

Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City (David Silva, 64)

Arsenal suddenly find themselves in a three on three situation on the counter but Xhaka;s attempt to clip a ball over to Ozil is dismal and easily cut out. Arsene Wenger's side have really offered nothing today.

City double their lead and what a moment for Vincent Kompany! The big centre back does brilliantly to win the corner in the first place with a neat run up the byline and reacts like a centre-forward from the set piece, diverting Gundogan's low drive past Ospina.

Goal! Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City (Vincent Kompany, 57)

Almost an utter disaster for Bravo! Bellerin pings a ball forward for Aubameyang to race onto, with Walker racing to keep up with him. The City full-back looked to have it covered, but that didn't stop Bravo from mindlessly surging out of goal, connecting with nothing but fresh air with a wild attempt to hoof the ball clear. Luckily for him, Walker can clean up.

Fernandinho's afternoon is over, he is coming off with Bernardo Silva onto replace him.

Fernandinho looks in trouble here; he boots the ball out of play himself so he can get some treatment after appearing to tweak his hamstring.

Close from Kompany! That latest corner is nodded back down by Sane into the path of the captain on the edge of the box but he drags his shot wide.

De Bruyne whips the free kick in with Gundogan trying to flick a header goalbound, but a deflection off an Arsenal player takes it wide.

Chambers is booked inside the opening minute of the second-half for pulling back Aguero just as the Argentine looked to break beyond him.

And City get us back underway for the second half.

Half-time: Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City

Arsenal fans are raging with a decision not to award Wilshere a free kick in the middle of the park. It was a crunching challenge from Danilo but he did look to emerge with the ball.

Wilshere is caught by another late challenge from Fernandinho but the advantage is played. Kolasinac wastes it by overhitting his cross but could the Man City midfielder be in trouble here? He was booked just a few minutes again. Craig Pawson has a quiet word with him and it looks like that will be that.

City close again. Aguero gets the ball on the edge of the box and ignored Sane's clever run through the middle, veering off the left before clipping an inviting cross/ambitious shot over towards the far post. It falls to De Bruyne on the half volley but he can't keep his effort on target.

Fernandinho is now booked for a late challenge on Wilshere. Another chance for Arsenal to swing a cross in but is another one wasted, overhit with all the big men forward.

Superb defending from Kompany! A ball over the top frees Aubameyang to race into the box after a fine first touch. The City captain reads the danger and races across to ease the striker off the ball and bring the ball away to safety.

Ramsey picks up the first yellow card of the game for dangerous play, catching Silva on the shoulder with a high boot.

Sane is freed down the left and twist and turns inside Bellerin, beating the Spaniard before firing a ball across goal. Aguero is lurking in the middle, but Chambers makes an important block.

Monreal has a problem here and he is unable to continue. Sead Kolasinac is onto replace him.

Sergio Aguero
Getty

Aguero is at it again against Arsenal, this is the fifth game in a row he has netted against the Gunners.

Amid all that, there was a bit of a row erupting between Wenger and Guardiola on the touchline. They've since hugged it out and everything has calmed down.

That was truly dismal from Mustafi. His appeal for a foul for that tiny shove will be the most optimistic shout you'll see all season.

Stunning finish from Aguero! For all City's beautiful football this season, this is proper route one stuff. Bravo pings the goal kick upfield with Aguero easily nudging Mustafi away from him to race clean through. Ospina decides to come early, and it makes the decision easy for Aguero, opting to elegantly clip the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into an empty net.

Goal! Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City (Sergio Aguero, 18)

Arsenal waste two free kicks in succession, both from out on the right. They try two different methods, neither worked.

Monreal is down inside the box and wants a penalty after colliding with Kompany. The ref isn't interested, mind, and play continues.

Arsenal pass up a golden opportunity to take the lead! A long ball over the top catches City out and Wilshere races through into the box, knocking the ball onto Ozil. He squares a pass across goal, looking to provide Aubameyang with an easy tap in but somehow it stays out! Walker might have got a foot to the ball first to put him off, but the Arsenal striker surely has to score there.

Wilshere vs Walker is already looking like a bit of a mismatch; the City full-back doesn't need any skills to beat the midfielder, he simply knocks the ball ahead of him and sprints past with ease. Wilshere is going to need some help there...

Silva's delivery is too deep but Walker retrieves, lifting a cross in from the other flank. Sane takes it on his chest and goes for the volley, but his effort is charged down.

Sane looks to cause trouble down the left straight away, winning an early corner off Ramsey.

Jack Wilshere looks to be operating in a more advanced role out on the left with Aaron Ramsey the man in the middle next to Granit Xhaka.

And Arsenal get us underway!

We are just about to get underway at Wembley; here's one more look at how the two sides are lining up this afternoon.

Arsenal team to face Manchester City: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Chambers, Monreal, Xhaka, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Aubameyang

Subs: Cech, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Welbeck

Manchester City team to face Arsenal: Bravo, Walker, Kompany (c), Otamendi, Danilo, Fernandinho, Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sane, Aguero

Subs: Ederson, Stones, Laporte, Bernardo, Zinchenko, Foden, Jesus

Wembley
Getty

Wembley is filling up...

As expected, Perp Guardiola has stayed loyal to Claudio Bravo, naming the Chile international in goal once again as he has done in the previous rounds of this competition.

There are four changes in all for City this afternoon, Vincent Kopmany returns to skipper the side with Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker also returning to that backline. Danilo shifts over to the left, with Fabian Delph serving a suspension. Kevin de Bruyne is obviously back in, too.

As expected, Arsene Wenger has made a host of changes to the side that lost to Ostersunds midweek, seven in all. Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil all come in along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who leads the line this afternoon.

Arsene has also switched up his system, he's named three at the back; the same set-up he used when the Gunners dumped City out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage last season.

Manchester City team to face Arsenal: Bravo, Walker, Kompany (c), Otamendi, Danilo, Fernandinho, Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sane, Aguero

Subs: Ederson, Stones, Laporte, Bernardo, Zinchenko, Foden, Jesus

BREAKING: Gabriel Jesus named among the Manchester City subs this afternoon.

Arsenal team to face Manchester City: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Chambers, Monreal, Xhaka, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Aubameyang

Subs: Cech, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Welbeck

BREAKING: Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil both return to the Gunners' starting XI.

While Arsene Wenger has reverted back to a more traditional back four this season, his system with three at the back nullified City when they met in the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season. Might Wenger be tempted to switch back to it today? He has the options, with Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi all fit and available along with wing-backs Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac.

Arsene Wenger
Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of City clash. Getty

Aaron Ramsey is poised to return from injury this afternoon. The Wales international has been sidelined with a groin problem since netting a hat-trick against Everton three weeks ago and sat out of Thursday's Europa League contest with Ostersunds, with Arsene Wenger deciding to preserve his midfielder for today's contest.

Mesut Ozil also missed that defeat at the Emirates through illness, but has recovered in time for today.

Aaron Ramsey
Reuters

Pep also has a big call to make at left-back, with Fabian Delph suspended after seeing red in the defeat to Wigan. Claudio Bravo meanwhile is expected to start in goal, just as he has done in the previous rounds of this competition.

A leaked Manchester City starting XI is doing the rounds on Twitter.

Kevin de Bruyne out wide?

Guardiola on Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus starting: "I think they will be ready to play, if I let them. They will be fit. Leroy because he is a little bit better and Gabriel because it is mentality.

"He is a young guy and he is strong. He is a guy who will be ready."

The blow of losing Sterling could be softened somewhat by the return of Gabriel Jesus, however. The Brazil international has not featured in 2018 due to a knee injury but Pep Guardiola told reporters this week he believes the forward will be ready.

Leroy Sane marked his return from injury in the FA Cup defeat to Wigan Athletic, looking slightly off the pace and was replaced at half-time. Pep feels both he and Jesus will be ready for today's challenge.

Gabriel Jesus
Getty Images

The big injury development today; Manchester City are set to be without Raheem Sterling this afternoon. The England international suffered a hamstring injury in Champions League clash against Basel with Pep Guardiola reportedly wary of aggravating the problem further.

Having scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, his presence will be missed.

Raheem Sterling
Getty Images

The first cup final of the season is upon us. Up until last week, Manchester City thought this could be the first of an unprecedented quadruple. Wigan Athletic ended those dreams last Monday, however. It's hard to envisage the wheels coming off the City train after that defeat at the DW Stadium, but how will Pep Guardiola's side respond their first real setback of the season? They are right back in the thick of it today with Pep Guardiola out to win his first trophy in English football.

If that happens, it will come at the expense of Arsene Wenger, who is still to lift the Carabao Cup or any of its previous incarnations during his time in north London. While 27 points separate Arsenal and Manchester City in the league, the Gunners proved last season that sort of form counts for very little in a cup final, seeing off champions Chelsea in the FA Cup final despite finishing sixth.

We've got all your team news and build-up on the way.