Manchester City booked a League Cup final showdown with Arsenal after ending Newcastle’s reign as holders with a blistering first-half display in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory.
Already in command after a semi-final first-leg win on Tyneside in January, Pep Guardiola’s side finished the job in ruthless fashion at the Etihad Stadium.
Omar Marmoush struck twice before the interval, either side of a goal from Tijjani Reijnders, as City overwhelmed Newcastle long before the tie was decided. Anthony Elanga pulled one back after the break, but City’s 5-1 aggregate triumph sent them back to the League Cup final for the first time since 2021.
The showpiece meeting with Arsenal will take place at Wembley on March 22 after the Premier League leaders knocked out Chelsea on Tuesday.
Reaching the final provided a timely lift for Guardiola after the frustration of surrendering a two-goal lead in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham, a result that dealt a significant blow to City’s title challenge. With a daunting trip to Liverpool looming this weekend, City trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League race.
The League Cup marked the first silverware of Guardiola’s reign when City beat Arsenal in the 2018 final, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta then serving as his assistant. City went on to lift the trophy for the next three seasons but have not won it since 2021.
Guardiola has this week used sarcasm and statistics to bat away claims that City’s dominance has been fuelled purely by the financial power of their Abu Dhabi-based owners. He pointed out that six English clubs have outspent City over the past five years, but accepts that critics are unlikely to be convinced.
For Guardiola, the only way to quieten the noise, and suggestions that City are in decline is through trophies. After finishing last season without silverware for the first time in eight years, ending that drought at Arsenal’s expense would be especially sweet.
Slick city
With Sunday’s Liverpool clash in mind, Guardiola made six changes, leaving Erling Haaland, Rodri and Rayan Cherki on the bench.
Haaland had scored just twice in his previous 11 appearances in all competitions, and his stand-in made an instant impact. Marmoush gave City the lead in the seventh minute with a fortunate finish, racing into the Newcastle area before Dan Burn’s desperate tackle ricocheted off the Egyptian and looped into the net.
City survived a brief scare when James Trafford saved at Joe Willock’s feet after the midfielder burst through on goal, before the goalkeeper again came to City’s rescue moments later by spreading himself to deny Anthony Gordon.
Those missed chances proved costly. City tightened their grip before half-time, with Marmoush doubling the lead in the 29th minute by heading in from close range after Kieran Trippier failed to clear Antoine Semenyo’s cross.
The goal capped a slick counter-attack, and Newcastle were sliced open again three minutes later. Reijnders drove the break, released Semenyo, and then raced into the box to finish the return pass with a precise low strike from 12 yards.
City cruised through the second half, rarely needing to shift out of second gear. Elanga briefly threatened a comeback in the 62nd minute, curling into the far corner after weaving through the defence, but the outcome was long beyond doubt.
