Manchester City crushed Arsenal’s quadruple dreams at Wembley, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice in four second-half minutes to secure a 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory and extend the Gunners’ six-year wait for silverware.
The 21-year-old full-back struck on the hour mark after Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga fumbled Rayan Cherki’s cross, then added a second in the 64th minute from Matheus Nunes’ delivery. City held firm as Arsenal hit the woodwork twice through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus.
Kepa gamble backfires
ikel Arteta’s decision to start cup goalkeeper Kepa over first-choice David Raya proved costly. The Spaniard looked uncertain throughout, and his 60th-minute error gifted City the opener.
Kepa had already escaped with a yellow card after charging from his box to foul Jeremy Doku. But when Cherki’s cross slipped through his gloves, O’Reilly pounced to head into an empty net.
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City struck again within four minutes. Nunes delivered from the right, and O’Reilly arrived at the far post to power home his second header.
The boyhood City fan became the third-youngest player to score twice in a League Cup final, behind Wayne Rooney and Ronnie Whelan.
Guardiola makes history
The victory gave Pep Guardiola his fifth League Cup title, the most by any manager in the competition’s history. City have now won the trophy nine times, one behind record holders Liverpool.
Arteta admitted the defeat left a “bad taste” but defended his goalkeeping call. “Errors are part of football, and unfortunately, it happened in a crucial moment,” he said.
City remain nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League with a game in hand. The sides meet at the Etihad on April 19 in a fixture that could define the title race.
