Nico O’Reilly’s double inspired Manchester City to a 2-0 victory over Premier League title rivals Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
In what was the first cup final to feature the top two teams in the league standings, the game began slowly, with only three shots on target in the first half – all coming from Arsenal.
However, the Gunners collapsed just after the hour mark, as a costly mistake from cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga gifted O’Reilly – who had just celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday – the opener, heading in the first of two goals within four minutes.
City remained in control thereafter, as Pep Guardiola made history by becoming the first manager to win the EFL Cup five times, while Mikel Arteta’s wait for a major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup continues.
Arsenal had started brightly, but James Trafford – preferred over Gianluigi Donnarumma after featuring in all of City’s matches en route to the final – produced a stunning triple save in the seventh minute to deny Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
City gradually grew into the match, with Antoine Semenyo delivering a dangerous cross that just evaded Erling Haaland, while Nathan Ake recovered well to prevent Arsenal from capitalizing at the other end.
Despite failing to register a shot on target in the first half, City nearly took the lead just before the break when Haaland headed over from close range after another fine move from Semenyo.
Early in the second half, Kepa’s poor judgement almost allowed Jeremy Doku through, before a major error on the hour mark saw him spill Rayan Cherki’s cross, enabling O’Reilly to head in from close range.
O’Reilly soon grabbed his second, directing a looping cross from Matheus Nunes past Kepa and into the top corner.
Arsenal came close to responding, hitting the woodwork twice through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus, but City held firm to secure a deserved win.
The triumph means City have now won nine of their 10 Carabao Cup finals, including eight consecutive victories since their 1974 defeat to Wolves, while it also marked Guardiola’s fifth title in the competition.
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