Manchester City will not be able to call on Marc Guehi in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal despite fellow January signing Antoine Semenyo being available

Pep Guardiola doesn’t like it and many can’t understand it but Manchester City will not be able to call on Marc Guehi for their Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. Nearly two months after joining the club, the former Palace defender will have to sit out the match despite the fact fellow January signing Antoine Semenyo can play.

Semenyo’s involvement caused confusion and controversy when he lined up for Guardiola’s side in their semi-final against Newcastle United. Eddie Howe was not happy that Semenyo was able to play even though he had already featured in an earlier round for Bournemouth before his £62.5m winter transfer.

Not only did he play but the Ghana international was instrumental in City’s 2-0 win at St James’ Park in the first leg of their semi-final, helping the Blues back into their first League Cup final since 2021 when they beat Aston Villa to win the trophy for the fourth consecutive time. Guardiola will be able to call on Semenyo for Sunday’s game with Arsenal thanks to that tweak to the rules to allow players to feature in the same competition for two different teams.

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Guehi will not have that chance though – not because of his prior involvement with Crystal Palace but because he was not a City player before the first leg of their semi-final with Newcastle. The new rules of the competition as of this season mean that a new signing has to have joined before that date if they want to play in either the semi-final or the final.

That effectively makes Guehi the only cup-tied player in the competition this season, an unusual quirk that left Guardiola baffled after their place in the final was confirmed. “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup (EFL) that Marc can play the final,” he said.

“I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. Hopefully we make a letter. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule I don’t understand. Hopefully they can change it. It is difficult to understand.”

Manchester City fans can book their seat at Wembley Stadium as Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta go head-to-head in their first shot at silverware this season.

Manchester City fans can still secure a seat at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final. On Sunday (March 22), the Blues will face their Premier League rivals in their first shot at silverware this season, and fans can book last-minute tickets today.

Pep Guardiola’s side may be trailing Arsenal in the league, but they could end the Gunners’ hopes of a historic quadruple with a win at Wembley. The two teams drew 1-1 when they last met in September, but a lot has happened since then, with City strengthening their squad with new signings like Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi.

Man City enjoyed an incredible run of four straight League Cup wins from 2018 to 2021 and could lift the trophy for a ninth time should they beat Arsenal on Sunday. The club’s own allocation of tickets has sold out, but there are still plenty available from other official channels like Seat Unique, where fans can book a range of luxury Carabao Cup Final VIP and hospitality packages.

They don’t come cheap, with prices starting at £1,399 per person for a Taphouse Social – Manchester City ticket, but this is touted as ‘the ultimate luxury matchday experience’. Included in the price is premium seating on Level Two, Wembley’s middle tier with padded seats offering stellar views of the pitch.

Guests will have access to the stadium 2.5 hours before kick-off, when they can enjoy the Taphouse Social, Wembley’s new premium area full of exclusive food and drink outlets. This includes a bar with 48 taps pouring beers, wine, cocktails, spirits and soft drinks, plus pies and pastries from Taphouse Bites.

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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

Fans can access Taphouse Social on two sides of the stadium – West and East – but only tickets to the dedicated Man City area are available. However, fans should note the stadium will close one hour after the final whistle.

Seat Unique’s other VIP package is the luxury Bobby Moore Lounge at £3,499 per person. This includes unrivalled premium seating on the halfway line, offering ‘the very best views of the match’ close to the dugout and trophy route.

The exclusive Bobby Moore lounge is said to be one of Wembley’s ‘finest hospitality lounges’. A ticket provides a seat at a shared table for up to three hours before kick-off and an hour after the match.

Here, guests can enjoy Canapés on arrival and unlimited Laurent Perrier Champagne both pre and post-match. Perhaps more importantly, a ticket includes a complimentary bar of beers, fine wines, spirits and soft drinks.

As well as a four-course meal and cheeseboard served after the game.

Similar packages may be available directly from Wembley Stadium. With supporters able to enquire via this online form.

For those watching at home, the Carabao Cup final will be shown live on ITV and Sky Sports. Kick-off is at 4.30pm on Sunday, March 22.

Marc Guehi could have sealed a move to Liverpool last summer but instead he finds himself playing a key role in Manchester City’s push to reclaim their Premier League crown.

Marc Guehi has admitted he has had to “change his game completely” since his move to Manchester City but that he is loving life at the Etihad. Guehi moved to City in the mid-season transfer window and has made a seamless transition to life under Pep Guardiola.

Guehi hasn’t missed a minute of Premier League football since his switch the the Etihad and has already cemented his place as a first-choice pick in City’s backline.

The former Crystal Palace defender played the full 90 minutes as City secured what could be a crucial three points against Newcastle on Saturday night. Guehi was asked to reflect on his opening month at the club after the game and he admitted he has had to make a lot of changes but the switch has helped him grow as a player.

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“It’s a top club. Since I came here, everyone has been so welcoming – players and staff,” Guehi told City’s in-house media. “ I have had to change my game completely. I am learning every day.

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“When to pass the ball, committing players – so many aspects I am learning on the job. It’s been great because I have had a lot of help. How you see Pep on TV is what he is like – passionate, intense and a winner. He wants to play his way. I am just glad I have the opportunity to be here.”

City’s win over Newcastle kept the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. Guardiola’s side know if they win all of their remaining league games they will be crowned champions and Guehi was delighted to help his team record three points against an in-form Newcastle.

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“These games are always difficult – always tough to play in,” he added. “Newcastle show intensity, endeavour and quality – it’s a really good win. Maybe not a statement win but one which puts us in a good position.”

Manchester City will seek permission for a rule change that would allow Marc Guehi to play in next month’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

The January signing from Crystal Palace has slotted straight into City’s starting XI but was ineligible for last night’s comfortable 3-1 semi-final second leg win over Newcastle.

While fellow January recruit Antoine Semenyo was free to play, Guehi was prevented from featuring because he joined City after the first leg against Newcastle took place.

As things stand the England international will have to watch from the sidelines again when his new side locks horns with the current Premier League leaders on March 22, much to Guardiola’s annoyance.

Guardiola acknowledged he did not expect City to be successful, but said they will make their case regardless.

‘Why should he not play? Why not?’ Guardiola said. ‘He’s our player, we pay his salary, we hired him…

‘We want to ask. I said to the club we have to ask definitely. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play in the final of the Carabao Cup in March when he has been here a long time…

‘Of course we are going to ask because it’s pure logic. (But) to change the rule, no way. But we will try.’

Guardiola’s complaints didn’t stop at Guehi’s potential participation, however, and also made reference to his annoyance at having to travel to London for another showpiece occasion.

He said: ‘We’re going to travel to London [for the Carabao Cup final], they [Arsenal] will wait for us there; all the time we have to travel. Never [the opposition] travel to the North of England [for a Final].’

Omar Marmoush was the star for City as he scored the opening two goals of the night before Tijjani Reijnders added a third, all inside 35 minutes.

Guardiola would have been concerned by the number of chances Newcastle created after the break, but with Anthony Elanga’s 62nd-minute strike the only one they converted, City were never overly troubled.

The win continues City’s run of having played at Wembley at least once every season since 2010-11.

‘I do not take it for granted,’ Guardiola said. ‘I know how difficult it is. I don’t know how many semi-finals and finals we have played in the FA Cup but it’s really good, and in 10 years five Carabao Cup finals so it’s really good: top, top, top.’

Marmoush, who previously scored a hat-trick against Newcastle, once again grabbed his chance against the Magpies with Erling Haaland starting on the bench.

‘He gives us a special quality,’ Guardiola said of the Egyptian. ‘His pace, his moments in behind, and his work ethic.’

Newcastle arrived in Manchester trailing 2-0 from the reverse fixture and knowing a strong start was essential.

Instead, they found themselves quickly 3-0 down and effectively out of it.

‘(I was) really annoyed with the first half display,’ boss Eddie Howe said. ‘We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us. That first half we weren’t good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems.’

To add to Howe’s worries, Anthony Gordon was forced off before half-time.

‘It looks like a hamstring problem,’ Howe said. ‘I don’t qute know how bad it was but it was enough for him to come off so that’s a big worry.’

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