Arsene Wenger has the opportunity to win his first ever Carabao Cup in England when Arsenal face Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
Wenger's trophy haul includes two Premier Leagues and seven FA Cups, yet it is the League Cup which has proved difficult to crack over the years, with final defeats to Chelsea in 2008and Birmingham three years later.The Gunners are currently in sixth position, with their top-four hopes looking slim as it stands anda trophy succe s before the end of the season could prove just the tonic to kick-start Arsenal's campaign.Arsenal hadto overcome Chelsea in a tight semi-final clash while City narrowly beat Bristol City over an entertaining two-legged affair.
ARSENAL INJURIES
Aaron Ramsey is expected to be available for selection on Sunday Keone Kela Jersey and Wenger will a se s how the Wales midfielder performs in training over the coming days.Alexandre Lacazette is Francisco Liriano Jersey sidelined with a knee injury, although his return has been shortened to "four weeks from now, maybe three and a half weeks" according to Wenger.
"Well see how Ramsey'sevolution goes now from today until Sunday," Wenger told Arsenal.com
"I dont rule him out yet, it depends on how well he can improve with the intensity of training until Sunday.
"Ideally, you want to have the choice but our job is about adaptation and very rarely in your life are you in an ideal situation where you have the luxury of choosing from all the players in your squad. We will adapt. Ideally, I would like him to be available but well see."
Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
ARSENALSUSPENSIONS
Arsenal have no playerssuspended for this game.
ARSENAL POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is cup-tied for the Wembley final, which opens up the po sibility of Alex Iwobi starting in a front three with Dave Parker Jersey Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil.Ramsey's return from injury is a welcome boost and if he's pa sed fit to start then he could be involved with fellow midfielders Jack Wilshere and Granit Xhaka also available.Wenger may decide to field a defensive midfielder to provide further balance to the midfield, with Mohamed Elneny or Ainsley Maitland-Niles able to slot in ahead of what is likely to be aback four.David Ospina continues in goal as Arsenal's 'cup keeper', while Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal look set to continue in the full-back spots.
MAN CITY TEAM NEWS
Fabian Delph is suspended for Sunday's match after receiving a red card in City's 1-0 defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup. The Englishman is likely to see his place in the line-up taken by Brazilian defender Danilo.Gabriel Jesus is back in training following his recovery from a knee ligament injury, although he wasn't included in the travelling squad which lost at Wigan on Monday.
Sergio Aguero is the club's top scorer with 29goals to his name so farthis season.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
This is Arsenals eighth League Cup final theyve lost more than any other side in the history of the competition (5), winning the tournament twice in 1987 and 1993.
Manchester City will be making their sixth appearance in the League Cup final, and third in the last five seasons. Theyve won four of their previous five, failing only in 1974.
This is the first ever meeting between these sides in a major final. Arsenal have won both previous meetings with Man City at Wembley 3-0 in the 2014 Community Shield, and 2-1 in last seasons FA Cup semi-final. Chad Kuhl Jersey
Arsene Wenger has won just three of his previous 12 managerial meetings with Pep Guardiola, drawing three and losing six.
Of the 13 players who played for Arsenal in the 2011 League Cup final defeat to Birmingham, only Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere are still at the club.
Wenger is aiming to become the eighth different manager to win all three of the English top- flight, FA Cup and League Cup after Bill Nicholson, Joe Mercer, Don Revie, George Graham, Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish and Jose Mourinho.
Sergio Jung-ho Kang Jersey Aguero has scored in each of his last four appearances against Arsenal in all competitions (4 goals in total). Only twice before has he netted in five consecutive games for Manchester City against a single opponent (Tottenham with a run ending in May 2015 and Sunderland in a run ending in March 2017).
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
The match kicks off at 16:30 GMT on Sunday, with live television coverage available on Sky Sportsin the UK.
