Manchester City ended Arsenal’s bid for a historic quadruple with a deserved victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
Nico O’Reilly scored twice in four second-half minutes as Pep Guardiola’s side overpowered the Premier League leaders with an outstanding display.
It was a day of pain for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, whose decision to keep faith with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in this competition instead of first choice David Raya backfired badly.
Kepa gifted City their first goal on the hour when he dropped Rayan Cherki’s routine cross for O’Reilly to pounce with a stooping header.
O’Reilly swiftly doubled City’s advantage, arriving at the far post to power home Matheus Nunes’ cross with another header – Guardiola sprinting down the touchline in celebration.
City’s win means Guardiola becomes the first manager to win the EFL Cup five times, while Arteta and Arsenal must wait to claim their first silverware since the FA Cup in 2020.
Manchester City and Guardiola proved old trophy winning habits die hard as they demonstrated their class and power to simply prove too much for Arsenal.
Also Read: Arsenal beat Brighton 2-0 to reach Carabao Cup quarters
It had been a disappointing spell for City, knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid after dropping nine points behind Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title.
Here, however, after a first 45 minutes low on quality, City came out for the second half like men possessed, urged on by the animated Guardiola from the sidelines.
City applied relentless pressure before getting their reward with that O’Reilly double, the youngster showing what he can offer under the watchful gaze of England head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Guardiola’s new-look City do not yet have the consistency of his side that won a historic four Premier League titles in succession, but when they get it right they are a match for anyone, as they proved here.
Guardiola, like Arteta, kept faith with his Carabao Cup keeper in James Trafford. Whereas his Arsenal counterpart’s decision went wrong, Trafford justified his faith with an outstanding triple save early on that proved crucial.
City were the more aggressive and progressive side, in contrast to Arsenal’s conservatism and timidity, to secure a fully merited victory.
And Guardiola’s elation was clear to see in that touchline sprint and the manner in which he congratulated his players at the end.
Whether this proves to be a psychological blow in the title race remains to be seen, but City demonstrated they are still a force to be reckoned with and not to be underestimated.
Arsenal manager Arteta resisted the temptation to field his strongest side by selecting Kepa in goal ahead of Raya.
It proved to be an ill-fated decision, with the keeper a central figure as Arsenal’s hopes of winning that first trophy since 2020 were placed on hold.
He had already been shown a yellow card for an injudicious dash from goal that resulted in a foul on Jeremy Doku, but worse was to follow in the moment this EFL Cup final got away from Arsenal.
Cherki’s cross should have been dealt with easily, but it slipped through the keeper’s grasp, allowing O’Reilly to get in ahead of Martin Zubimendi to score.
There was no way back for Arsenal once O’Reilly added his second, and the Gunners can have no complaints.
Arsenal played within themselves, showing a lack of attacking ambition until the closing stages when the game was lost.
Arteta’s side are still in a superb position to win silverware, with a commanding lead in the Premier League and with the Champions League and FA Cup still in their sights – but there was no consolation here as they turned in a disappointing display.
BBC
