Arsenal are gearing up for their first major final since 2020, as they prepare to face Manchester City at Wembley in a highly anticipated showdown for the first domestic trophy of the season.
Sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League, Arsenal hold a nine-point lead and could deal a significant psychological blow to Pep Guardiola’s side with a victory on Sunday, reports alldaysport.
Mikel Arteta’s team is also chasing an ambitious quadruple, remaining active in multiple competitions this season.
Speaking ahead of the final, Piero Hincapié acknowledged the challenge but emphasized the team’s focus on success:
“I don’t know. It’s going to be a very difficult game. We’re very focused on wanting to win it, but we have to work hard to win the title.
We’re really focused on the final, which is a very important final.
We’re going to train very hard to get to the final in the best way possible and to win the title. That’s the most important thing.”
Arsenal reached this stage after a strong UEFA Champions League performance, eliminating Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-1 aggregate score. Hincapié admitted mixed emotions after facing his former club:
“I’m really excited to have qualified for the quarter-finals with my club, but I’m also a bit sad because it was against my former club. This is football and I’m really happy.”
Meanwhile, concerns continue to grow over the fitness of Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been sidelined with a knee issue. Reports suggest uncertainty over his return timeline, with Norwegian pundits raising alarms about the situation.
“If the situation is still like this in May, then there is reason to worry.”
Ødegaard himself has described his recovery as “difficult”, with fears that the injury could become a recurring problem. Arsenal are expected to take a cautious approach, avoiding any risk of aggravating the issue further.
As the Gunners aim for silverware and maintain their dominance in England, the outcome of the Wembley final—and Ødegaard’s fitness—could prove ative for the remainder of their season./ALLDAYSPORT/
