ITV have been forced to apologise after their coverage of this season’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City was hit with problems. The live coverage from Wembley Stadium was without sound.

And viewers on social media platform X have been quick to voice their frustration. “ITV daring their viewers to lip read the Carabao Cup Final,” one said.

“Anyone else watching the Carabao Cup final on ITV in silence or is it just me?” another said. Elsewhere, a viewer asked: “Why is the sound not on ITV Carabao Cup final? Have they not noticed it? Helloooo.”

The issues were then fixed at around 4:10pm, just 20 minutes before kick-off, with ITV apologising with a message appearing along the bottom of viewers’ screens reading ‘we apologise for the audio disruption’.

The Premier League’s top-two are meeting in a League Cup final for the first time. Arsenal are chasing their first piece of silverware since lifting the 2020 FA Cup and Mikel Arteta’s side are also seeking an unprecedented quadruple.

The Gunners sit nine points clear of second-placed City, face Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round and Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals.

And Arsenal have been handed a boost before kick-off in the Carabao Cup final with City boss Pep Guardiola confirming that key centre-back Ruben Dias is absent through injury.

He said: “At half-time on Tuesday Ruben [Dias] felt something. He couldn’t play and he’s still not ready.

“It’s not a big issue but he’s not ready and I have no doubts about Nathan. He has experience and incredible composure.

“Whatever happens, I’ve always played the second keeper in the cups and James is a top keeper. He’s young, a top-class keeper, and whatever happens I have confidence in him.”