The following key insights, milestones and records are drawn from Opta’s in-depth statistical analysis of both 2025/26 Carabao Cup Semi-Final second legs, as Arsenal and Manchester City booked their place at Wembley.

Route to the Final

Arsenal have reached their 9th League Cup final, with only Liverpool (15), Manchester United (10) and Chelsea (10) boasting more appearances.
Manchester City have now reached their 10th final, a total only bettered by Liverpool.

Managers & Milestones

Mikel Arteta progresses from a semi-final for just the second time, and the first since Arsenal’s 2019–20 FA Cup win over Man City.
Pep Guardiola reaches his fifth League Cup final, equalling José Mourinho for the most by a non-British manager.
Newcastle have been eliminated from a League Cup semi-final for the first time, having previously progressed in 1975–76, 2022–23 and 2024–25.
Chelsea fail to progress from a League Cup semi-final for the first time since 2017–18 – also against Arsenal.

Head-to-Head & Historic Runs

Arsenal are now 10 games unbeaten against Chelsea in all competitions (W7 D3) – their second-longest run ever against the Blues.
Newcastle have lost 12 successive away games to Manchester City – their longest run against a single opponent in their Football League history.
Man City have now progressed from seven straight League Cup semi-finals, the outright longest perfect run in competition history.

Defensive Records

Arsenal kept their 20th clean sheet of 2025–26 in their 38th match — only in 2023–24 (23) have they kept more under Arteta.
Newcastle conceded three first-half goals for only the second time under Eddie Howe — both occasions away to Manchester City.

Attacking Output

Arsenal registered just five shots, their fewest in any match this season, and only two on target (higher only than their single effort vs Liverpool in August).
Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders became the first City player to create 5+ chances and attempt 4+ shots in a semi-final since David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in 2018.
Anthony Elanga’s goal ended Newcastle’s 751‑minute drought without scoring at the Etihad (since September 2018).

Key Players & Records

Kai Havertz now has eight League Cup goals since his competition debut in 2020 — behind only Cody Gakpo and Eddie Nketiah (both 9) in that time.
Declan Rice has seven assists since the Club World Cup — only Bruno Fernandes (13), Rayan Cherki (10) and Jérémy Doku (8) have more among Premier League players.
Five of Omar Marmoush’s 12 Manchester City goals have come at home vs Newcastle, including a previous Etihad hat-trick.

Carabao Cup Semi-Finals post match stat pack

Carabao Cup Semi-Finals post match stat pack