Arsenal vs Man City: EFL Cup Predictions & Forecast – 03/22/26

March 22, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Arsenal and Manchester City face each other at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in the EFL Cup final, with Arsenal entering the match as favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook, priced at +130 to win.

The match pits the top two teams in the English Premier League against each other, with Arsenal currently holding a nine-point lead over Manchester City. Arsenal has not lost in their past 14 games across all competitions, while Manchester City’s recent form has been less consistent, having been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid and posting a record of 1-2-2 in March.

Arsenal reached the final after defeating Chelsea 1-0 in February, while Manchester City overcame Newcastle 3-1 in their semi-final match. The total for match goals is set at 2.5, with over/under odds of +100 and -125 respectively.

SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer has offered his predictions for the match, advising a bet on Arsenal to lift the trophy at -135 odds. Eimer finished 2023 as SportsLine’s No. 1 soccer expert, with a record of 248-234-12, and has continued to demonstrate profitability in 2025 across multiple leagues including the Premier League and Champions League.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the team’s desire to end their six-year trophy drought, stating, “We want it so much.” Arteta, who was an assistant coach at Manchester City when they won the League Cup in 2018, acknowledged the significance of potentially securing a psychological advantage over City with a win. He added, “It’s focused on that, basically, and that’s it.”

Recent player news indicates that Erling Haaland is available for Manchester City despite being substituted in a previous match, with manager Pep Guardiola stating Haaland was rested for the final. For Arsenal, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard are both late calls for the match, with manager Mikel Arteta assessing their availability during another training session.

The match represents a potential first silverware of the season for both clubs, with Arsenal also competing in the Champions League and FA Cup quarterfinals, maintaining a live quadruple bid.