Manchester City ended Arsenal's bid for an historic quadruple with a deserved victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
2025/2026 League Cup
0-2
Match Report
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 analysis: Guardiola's men make statement
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.
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 analysis: Arteta's big decision backfires
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.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Tuchel is attending the game
7' Trafford with a quick double save from Havertz
16' Hincapie is booked
20' Excellent cross from Antoine Semenyo down the right
24' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
27' Gabriel stops the Semenyo
30' Silva fouls on Trossard
32' Yellow Card! Abdukodir Khusanov booked
33' Last ditched defending by Ake as Viktor was nearly through on goal
37' Better corner from Saka but Hincapie stretches for a header and over it goes
40' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
42' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
45' Haaland can't keep his header down and on target
47' Kepa has the ball for a long time
49' Haaland can't finish the shot well
49' Arsenal win a corner again
51' Yellow Card! Kepa booked
56' Semenyo's shot wide out
59' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
60' City lead 1-0 after a poor mistake by Kepa! Arsenal 0-1 Man City (Nico O'Reilly)
63' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
64' And there is number 2 for Nico O'Reilly! Arsenal 0-2 Man City
65' Hincapie, Havertz 🔛 Calafiori, Madueke
69' Yellow Card! Ben White booked
73' Good free kick by Rice by Calafiori's header is straight at Trafford
78' Calafiori with a shot but it is agonisingly wide
82' White, Trossard 🔛 Jesus, Martinelli
85' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
88' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
88' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man City
90' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man City
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Trossard, Kepa, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Saka, Hincapie
Subs: Christian Nørgaard, David Raya, Jesus, Martinelli, Madueke, Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman
Man City XI: Ake, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Matheus Nunes, James Trafford, Cherki, Doku, Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov
Subs: Kovacic, Stones, Donnarumma, Foden, Omar Marmoush, Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Nico González, Savinho