We have made it to our ninth League Cup final, and our first in eight years, where we will face Manchester City as we aim to have our name engraved on the famous three-handled trophy for the third time in our history.
Our involvement in this season’s competition began all the way back in September, so if you need a refresher of how we made it to Wembley, as well as City’s path to the final, we’ve got you covered:
ROUND THREE
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
September 24, 2025
We kicked off our League Cup campaign with a first trip to Vale Park in 27 years to face the League One side, and things got off to a great start when Ebere Eze netted his first Arsenal goal after just eight minutes with a smart finish from inside the box.
Some good goalkeeping by Joe Gauci would deny Eze a second, but while Kepa Arrizabalaga was untroubled despite a packed house roaring Vale on. However, they would depart disappointed four minutes from time when Leandro Trossard smartly took the ball and flashed a shot into the bottom corner to complete the job.
Huddersfield Town 0-2 Man City
City began the competition with a trip to the Accu Stadium, and won in similar circumstances. Phil Foden put them ahead on 18 minutes, before Savinho got the all-important second on 74 minutes to advance with minimal fuss.
ROUND FOUR
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
October 29, 2025
A much tougher test came our way when we were drawn against a fellow Premier League side in the Seagulls. Max Dowman, aged 15 years and 302 days, became the youngest Gunner to start a competitive match, but the visitors had the better of the first half and sharper shooting from Georginio Rutter or Stefanos Tzimas would have put them ahead.
However we punished those missed opportunities after the restart, firstly when a slick passing move ended when Ethan Nwaneri produced a precise finish into the bottom corner, and then 15 minutes from time, debutant Andre Harriman-Annous saw a shot saved by Jason Steele, but Bukayo Saka was on hand to convert the rebound to clinch victory.
Swansea City 1-3 Man City
Pep Guardiola’s team had a scare at the Swansea.com Stadium when Goncalo Franco had fired the Championship outfit ahead after 12 minutes, but just before half-time, Jeremy Doku saw a shot take a wicked deflection to score at a crucial time. Omar Mamoush finally put them ahead on 77 minutes, before Rayan Cherki added a stoppage-time third.
ROUND FIVE
Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace (8-7 pens)
December 23, 2025
Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Maxence Lacroix’s penalty at the end of an epic shootout to send us through to the semi-finals. In an encounter dominated by goalkeepers, Walter Benitez did well to deny Gabriel Jesus in a quiet first half, but we looked to be into the last four when Lacroix inadvertently sent the ball into his own goal on 80 minutes.
But in the final seconds of stoppage-time, Marc Guehi – who could face us in the final for Manchester City – flicked in to force a shootout. After 15 successful penalties, Arrizabalaga guessed right to keep out Palace’s final spot-kick and start the celebrations.
Man City 2-0 Brentford
City were handed a home tie against high-flying Brentford in round five, but an excellent curling strike by Cherki handed them a 32nd-minute advantage, which was added to by Savinho who netted with a deflected effort to end the Bees’ hopes.
SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG
Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
January 14, 2026
We faced the Blues away from home first up in the two-legged semi, but swiftly found ourselves in front when Ben White headed home Declan Rice’s corner after seven minutes, before Viktor Gyokeres pounced on a fumble by Robert Sanchez to tap home White’s low cross in the second half.
Alejandro Garnacho halved the deficit before Martin Zubimendi rounded off a flowing move by skipping past two defenders before lashing the ball into the net to make it 3-1. Garnacho then found his second of the game seven minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish, as we took the slenderest of leads back to Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle United 0-2 Man City
City travelled to the home of the holders, and the Magpies wasted numerous opportunities before January arrival Antoine Semenyo scored from close range on 53 minutes. He then had a goal controversially ruled out for offside, but Guardiola’s team added a killer second when Cherki scored in the ninth minute of added-on time.
SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
February 3, 2026
Kai Havertz once again came back to haunt his former club in the final seconds to ensure we would be at Wembley for our first final in six years. In rain-swept conditions, chances were at a premium and good saves from Sanchez and Arrizabalaga would deny Piero Hincapie and Enzo Fernandez in a cagey first half.
The Blues attempted a late charge to try and force penalties, however they were caught out in the final seconds when a fine Rice pass allowed Havertz to round the goalkeeper and clinch a win on the night, as well as a 4-2 aggregate success, and ensure that all nine goals netted on our road to the final were scored by different players.
Man City 3-1 Newcastle
Just as they had done in every League Cup tie, City won by a two-goal cushion to cruise into the final. Marmoush netted twice in the opening half-hour to end the contest, before Tijjani Reijnders added a third on 32 minutes. City looked likely to run riot, but took their foot off the gas, allowing Anthony Elanga to pull back the merest of consolations.
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