Man City v Arsenal: How do Carabao Cup finalists compare in attack?

Image: Arsenal and Manchester City meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, live on Sky Sports

Who will get the goals to win the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal?

After looking at the goalkeepers, defences and midfielders, now we turn our attentions to the forwards, with Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the leading lights at Wembley on Sunday.

Who has the edge up front? We take a look…

City's strength

Only Paris St-Germain have scored more goals domestically in Europe's top five leagues this season than Manchester City. Their tally of 79 goals is 18 more than Liverpool - the second-highest scorers in the Premier League - and they are well on track to break the league record of 103 in a season set by Chelsea in 2009/10.

In Aguero, they not only have the third-highest scorer in the top flight, but also a striker in good form this year. The 29-year-old has netted 14 goals in 2018, including four in a 5-1 victory over Leicester recently.

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"He has a special talent in the box, he is clinical," said City boss Pep Guardiola after the win over the Foxes. "We need his goals, that's why it's so good."

But although Aguero has now scored 198 in total for City, there have been other key contributors this season, most notably Raheem Sterling, who has 15 Premier League goals to his name, having only scored 20 in the last three years combined.

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Sterling's form has been a major positive for City and, speaking to Sky Sports' Gary Neville earlier this month, he explained why he is getting more goals. "A lot of times before I was getting into goalscoring positions, then it was down to me score, but the majority of the time I wasn't. Now I'm getting closer to the goal and making sure I'm following things in, and I'm getting the rewards for it."

Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher believe Sergio Aguero is underrated in the Premier League

While Sterling and Aguero look certain to start at Wembley, Guardiola may have to choose between Leroy Sane, who has returned from injury earlier than expected, and Bernardo Silva for the third attacking position.

Guardiola described Sane as "a special talent" earlier this year but he only lasted 45 minutes in the FA Cup defeat to Wigan on Monday, which was the first game that City had failed to score in this year and only the third time they have not found the net this season.

Was Wigan's display a blueprint for Arsenal?

Like Wolves in the Carabao Cup in October - when they held City goalless over 120 minutes - Wigan defended deep and did not allow any space behind. While City did still create chances, their attack was largely blunted and Aguero was kept particularly quiet. Wigan also managed to find space on the break, particularly in the wide positions, which Arsenal might be able to repeat with the help of their big-money January signing...

Man City v Arsenal: Forwards compared

Minutes played in PL Goals Assists Shots Conversion rate
Man City
Sergio Aguero 1788 21 5 88 23.86
Raheem Sterling 1922 15 6 63 23.81
Leroy Sane 1548 7 10 37 18.92
Bernardo Silva 948 2 4 15 13.33
Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 180 1 0 3 33.33
Mesut Ozil 1804 4 7 33 12.12
Alex Iwobi 1121 2 3 32 6.25
Danny Welbeck 708 3 1 17 17.65

A lack of options?

After selling Olivier Giroud in January and then seeing Alexandre Lacazette go down with injury, Arsenal look as though they will turn to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to lead the line on Sunday.

The Gunners' club-record signing has only played twice since joining from Borussia Dortmund last month, with his first appearance marked by a goal against Everton and his second an anonymous display in a 1-0 defeat at Wembley against Tottenham, when he was starved of service and only had two touches in the box.

If Arsenal are going to hurt City they will surely need more of the promising link-up play that was on show when they eased past Everton 5-1 at the Emirates on Aubameyang's debut.

Image: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to lead the line for Arsenal

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is cup-tied for the Carabao Cup final, provided three assists in the game and Mesut Ozil was also influential.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said earlier this month that Ozil is now Arsenal's main man after Alexis Sanchez's departure.

"I think the question has always been whether he does decide the big games, is he the man to take them to big trophies and the Premier League," he said. "That has happened over the last few years, and that has to happen for him to be placed alongside the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry. But there's no doubt he's now Arsenal's No 1 man after Sanchez has gone.

Ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, watch how Arsenal secured their place at Wembley

Ozil has created more chances (318) since the start of the 2015/16 season than any other Premier League player, including Kevin De Bruyne (268), but the Gunners could be without Aaron Ramsey due to injury.

That might open the door for either Alex Iwobi or Danny Welbeck to start. Iwobi showed encouraging signs against Everton and Ostersund in the Europa League but was then left out for the defeat to Tottenham when the Gunners struggled. Welbeck, meanwhile, has only started sporadically this season and has only scored five goals in all competitions.

We look at Manchester City and Arsenal's journey to Wembley as they get set to battle for the piece of silverware of the season

Also, how will Arsenal press without the ball? Will Aubameyang, Ozil and Iwobi or Welbeck expend energy by trying to force errors from the City defenders? Liverpool had success with the tactic in their recent win over City, but will the Gunners try for the same?

Which attack will come out on top on Sunday? If you are using skysports.com, you can comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.

Watch the Carabao Cup final live on Sky Sports Football from 3.30pm on Sunday, February 25.

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