Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final clash against Manchester City is already causing a lot of debate.
After Arsenal booked their place in the final by beating Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final, Man City overcame Newcastle to join the Gunners.
It will be Pep Guardiola vs Mikel Arteta under the Wembley arch for the third time, something that will unnerve the Man City boss more than the Arsenal manager.
Arteta has beaten Guardiola twice at Wembley already, but that’s not why his former colleague is already stressing about the final.
Guardiola was desperate for Marc Guehi to play in the final, but the centre-back will not be able to, which is a blow for City.
Call it now, will Mikel Arteta’s record be intact after the Carabao Cup final?
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo’s Carabao Cup final eligibility explained
After Guardiola protested to the EFL to change the rule that considers Guehi ineligible for the final, the City manager received a response.
The EFL have confirmed that Guehi will remain ineligible to face Arsenal, but why?
A rule which was implemented for the first time this season states that a player signed after the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final cannot feature for their new club in the remainder of the competition.
Be honest, if this rule impacted an Arsenal player, what would you think?
The rules are the rules, Pep 😴
Man City signed Guehi six days after they played their semi-final first leg against Newcastle; therefore, he is ineligible.
Subsequently, that explains why Antoine Semenyo CAN play in the final, despite also being a January signing.
Semenyo was signed by City on January ninth, which was four days BEFORE the semi-final first leg.
The rules are simple and will be honoured, so now, Guardiola must make peace with that.
Carabao Cup rule has frustrated Man City and others
When Guardiola first mentioned Guehi’s ineligibility, he said the following to Sky Sports.
“It’s difficult to understand that the club who make a big investment to pay one player who belongs to us and I don’t understand why he cannot play the final.”
The rule has been clarified, making it easier to understand, but even the explanation has frustrated others.
Agree or disagree? This should be Arsenal’s starting XI in the Carabao Cup final!
Also speaking on Sky Sports, Shay Given shared his thoughts that Semenyo shouldn’t be allowed to play either, calling for the cup-tied rule to come back.
“I don’t think Semenyo should be allowed to play either, once you play in the competition, you shouldn’t be allowed to play [again for another team]. He should be cup-tied like it’s always been.”
Either way, Guehi wouldn’t be allowed to play, as Arsenal know very well, having knocked the defender out with Crystal Palace at the Emirates in the quarter-final.
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