Strap yourself in for a Wembley showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal that should be as fascinating on the grass as the sideline where Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta bid to outsmart each other.

City’s manager was the Arsenal No 1’s tutor from 2016-19 when Arteta was his coach. This forged a friendship but there may be fireworks between them after Guardiola was incensed by the Spaniard’s claim he had “all the information” on City after they complained about Arsenal’s “dark arts” tactics in the 2–2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last season.

Expect the spat to be returned to by media inquisitors after City booked a 22nd trip to Wembley under Guardiola in the quest to claim his fifth League Cup. They did so easily, two Omar Marmoush goals and a Tijjani Reijnders strike ending Newcastle’s defence embarrassingly.

Anthony Elanga scored for Eddie Howe’s side but he will be angered at the defensive horror show that cost them. City’s own rearguard remains leaky so if Newcastle were more ruthless, it might have been them in the final for a second successive year.

Howe urged Newcastle to impose themselves early, then saw City score seven minutes in and by...