Brazilian striker Jesus is fit again after being ruled out of the 1-0 win against the Saints with a mouth problem while Laporte is back at the heart of our defence alongside Ruben Dias.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen is handed another starting berth while Oleksandr Zinchenko, skipper Fernandinho, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez are also included.
Joao Cancelo, Rodrigo and Bernardo Silva retain their places alongside Dias from the side that won at the St Mary’s Stadium.
Sergio Aguero is amongst those named on a powerful-looking substitutes’ bench.
Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Nathan Ake all sit out the trip to the capital with Dutch defender Ake not fully fit.
Teams
CITY: Steffen, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Fernandinho©, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Foden, Jesus, Mahrez
Subs: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Sterling, Gundogan, Aguero, Torres.
ARSENAL: Runarsson, Mustafi, Gabriel, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Ceballos, Cedric, Willock, Lacazette, Martinelli
Subs: Leno, Tierney, Mari, Smith, Rowe, Pepe, Balogun, Nketiah.
Formation and squad notes
Manager Pep Guardiola again looks likely to adopt – at least initially – City’s traditional 4-3-3 formation against the Gunners.
However, the beauty of the quality within the squad is that the side can seamlessly adapt tactically where necessary.
Cancelo, Laporte, Dias and Zinchenko are set to form the back four in front of goalkeeper Steffen with Fernandinho, Rodrigo and Bernardo operating in the engine room.
Jesus should form the striking focal point with Foden and Mahrez deployed on either flank up-front.
City will also be bidding to maintain our remarkable record of success in the Carabao Cup.
Winners of the trophy for the past three seasons, we last experienced defeat in the tournament way back in October 2016.
We also famously overcame Arsenal 3-0 at Wembley to win the 2018 Carabao Cup final.
Stats and facts
- Arsenal and Manchester City last met in the League Cup in the 2018 final, with City winning 3-0. The Gunners have lost their last three League Cup matches against City, also losing in the quarter-finals in both 2009-10 and 2011-12.
- City have won our last three away matches against Arsenal, all in the Premier League. City are the only team to win three consecutive away games against the Gunners at the Emirates, while the last team to win four consecutive away matches against Arsenal were Chelsea between 1960 and 1965 (six in a row).
- Arsenal have been eliminated from six of their last eight League Cup quarter-finals, reaching the semi-final in 2010-11 and 2017-18 in this run. This is the Gunners’ 29th appearance at this stage, more than any other club.
- City have progressed from/won the final in each of their last 17 League Cup ties and haven’t lost a League Cup match in London since December 2003 (3-1 v Spurs), winning six and drawing two since, winning on penalties in the two draws.
- Since 2006-07, only Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (20) have won more League Cup matches at one venue than Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium (19), with the Gunners winning seven of their last eight matches there (L1).
- City’s Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 17 goals in 25 appearances in the League Cup (10 goals, seven assists) and has found the net in each of his last two matches at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, both Premier League encounters.
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