Seven top football pundits have delivered their verdicts on today’s Carabao Cup final, with a slim majority backing Premier League leaders Arsenal to edge out Manchester City at Wembley.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson leads the charge for the Gunners, predicting a 2-1 victory and claiming the “quadruple dream is still very much on.”
Merson believes his former side possesses a unique “swagger” this season.
Joining him in the Arsenal camp is Joe Cole, who expects “a bit of needle” on the touchline, and Alan Shearer, who suggests the Gunners might “just nick it” in a highly charged encounter.
Gabby Agbonlahor also favors Mikel Arteta’s men, noting that Gabriel and Saliba will be “so aggressive” in neutralizing Erling Haaland.
On the other side of the divide, Chris Sutton anticipates a “dull encounter” that will ultimately favor the blue half of Manchester.
Sutton predicts a 0-0 draw through extra time, with City prevailing on penalties. Tim Sherwood also sees the trophy heading to the Etihad, despite believing Arsenal will eventually win the Premier League.
Rounding out the City backers is Clinton Morrison, who argues this is a “must-win” for Pep Guardiola following their midweek Champions League exit, noting that City “know how to win at Wembley.”
The final tally sees four pundits—Merson, Cole, Shearer, and Agbonlahor—backing an Arsenal triumph, while Sutton, Sherwood, and Morrison expect Manchester City to secure the season’s first domestic silverware.
With the pundits split and the stakes at an all-time high, Wembley is set for a tactical chess match. As Shearer noted: “It wouldn’t even surprise me if it went to penalties. But I think Arsenal might just nick it.”