Manchester City convincingly defeated Newcastle United with a 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, securing their place in the League Cup final with a 5-1 aggregate score. City will now face Arsenal in the final at Wembley Stadium on March 22.

Omar Marmoush was the star of the show, scoring two goals in the first half. Tijjani Reijnders added another goal before halftime, effectively ending Newcastle's hopes of defending their League Cup title. Despite a consolation goal from Newcastle's Anthony Elanga in the second half, City's dominance was clear.

Marmoush opened the scoring early in the match, ensuring Newcastle's task of overturning the first-leg deficit became even more difficult. He then doubled his tally with another goal, putting City firmly in control. Reijnders further extended City's lead before the break, leaving Newcastle with a mountain to climb.

Elanga's goal after the interval provided some cheer for the Newcastle fans, but it was not enough to spark a comeback. City eased off in the second half, but their place in the final was never in doubt.

City's manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed his pleasure at the prospect of playing against Arsenal in the final, acknowledging them as potentially the best team in Europe. He believes that facing strong opponents like Arsenal will only make his team better. City's victory marks their first League Cup final appearance since 2021.

The upcoming final between Manchester City and Arsenal adds another chapter to their growing rivalry. City has previously edged out Arsenal in the Premier League title race in both 2023 and 2024, after Arsenal led for a significant portion of both seasons. Arsenal, currently leading the Premier League standings, will be aiming to win their first title since 2004. The League Cup presents an opportunity for Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, to secure his first major trophy with the club.

Despite making changes to the team, Pep Guardiola still watched his team comfortably secure a win. James Trafford, City's goalkeeper, also played a crucial role, making important saves to deny Newcastle any chance of building confidence.