Man City Clinches Dramatic 3-1 Victory Over Newcastle, Securing Spot in Tense English League Cup Final Clash

March 22 is shaping up to be a date etched in the memories of football fans everywhere, as Manchester City and Arsenal lock horns for the English League Cup crown at Wembley Stadium. It’s a juicy showdown—these two giants aren’t just battling for the shiny trophy but for bragging rights atop the Premier League, where Arsenal currently holds a six-point lead over City. Both squads have been cutting through their opposition like a hot knife through butter, with City trouncing Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate, thanks largely to a stunning first-half burst with two goals from Omar Marmoush. On the flip side, Arsenal quietly dispatches Chelsea, sealing their spot in the final with a hard-fought 4-2 aggregate win. The intensity here is palpable—these teams are still gunning for a historic clean sweep, with Champions League and FA Cup campaigns still alive and kicking. There’s more than silverware at stake; this match is a psychological battleground that could shift momentum in the title chase in ways we won’t fully grasp until the final whistle blows. If you want the deep dive on this titanic clash and all things soccer, you know where to look. LEARN MORE

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It’s Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the English League Cup final.

The current top two in the Premier League will go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium next month after City beat Newcastle 3-1 on Wednesday to complete a 5-1 win on aggregate in the semifinals.

Both City and Arsenal are still in contention for a clean sweep of trophies this season. The League Cup is the chance to lift the first piece of major silverware this term and to potentially inflict a psychological blow in the race for the title.

Arsenal currently leads the standings by six points ahead of second-place City. Both teams are through to the round of 16 in the Champions League and and fourth round of the FA Cup.

The League Cup final is on March 22.

Two first-half goals from Omar Marmoush at the Etihad effectively finished off Newcastle in a semifinal where City led 2-0 from the first leg. Tijjani Reijnders added another before the break.

Newcastle scored a consolation through substitute Anthony Elanga and prevented what looked like being a rout after the first 45 minutes.

Arsenal booked its place in the final with a 1-0 win against Chelsea on Tuesday to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.

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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer