Arsenal latest: Max Dowman solution found and five players could miss Carabao Cup final

Arsenal take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, with the Gunners looking to clinch their first major trophy since 2020

Arsenal are aiming to secure the first trophy of a potential quadruple as they get set to take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. The Gunners head into the match as marginal favourites, having kept City at bay for large stretches of the Premier League title battle.

A victory for Arsenal would represent their first League Cup success since 1993 and only the second major honour under Mikel Arteta, after winning the FA Cup almost six years ago. City, on the other hand, are chasing their first major trophy since 2024 - and their strong recent record in this competition will boost their belief.

The Citizens have claimed the League Cup an impressive six times since 2014, including a run of four consecutive wins from 2018 to 2021. They also boast an excellent record in finals, having won eight out of nine appearances.

However, Arsenal can take encouragement from a recent record of their own: they are unbeaten in their last six matches against Man City across all competitions. With that in mind, here are the latest Arsenal-related headlines ahead of the 2026 Carabao Cup final.

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Five players may miss final

Arsenal might have to cope without three key players for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Man City, as Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber and captain Martin Odegaard are all injury concerns. None of the three featured in Friday's training session, which has raised doubts over their readiness for the Wembley clash.

Arteta declined to rule any of them out but stayed vague regarding their condition. "We have another session [on Saturday], so let's see if they make it," the Spaniard said.

Odegaard has missed significant portions of the campaign due to multiple injuries and has played only 58 minutes since late January because of a knee issue. Eze, meanwhile, has been playing regularly - and his absence on Friday is thought to have been precautionary following a demanding period.

Timber, though, was forced off with an injury during the 2-0 victory over Everton last week and later missed Arsenal's Champions League win against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. The Dutch defender is now in a race against time to prove his fitness for the final.

Man City will also be without key figures. Josko Gvardiol, sidelined since January with an ankle injury, is not expected to return until April, while Marc Guehi is unavailable after failing to be registered in time following his January switch from Crystal Palace.

EFL regulations were updated this season to permit players to feature for two clubs in the same Carabao Cup campaign. However, the rules state that registration must be completed before the first leg of the semi-final - and Guehi's £20million move from Selhurst Park was finalised six days too late.

Dowman solution

Even if Odegaard and Eze are unavailable for the City clash, Arteta can turn to teenage talent Max Dowman as an alternative in midfield. The 16-year-old made history last weekend by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history - although he was unable to celebrate with team-mates in the dressing room afterwards.

This is due to Premier League regulations requiring players under 18 to use separate changing areas from the senior squad. As a result, Dowman, who turned 16 on New Year's Eve, must use a different room before and after both matches and training.

EFL rules differ slightly. Instead, clubs are encouraged to consult with the player's parents or guardians beforehand to ensure everyone is happy with the setup.

Wembley does offer separate facilities if Dowman and his family choose that route - but ultimately, the decision lies with the club, the player and his family, rather than being strictly enforced by the EFL.