Manchester City proved stronger — and more efficient — in the clash between the top two teams in the Premier League (where Arsenal holds the advantage) and lifted the League Cup trophy for the ninth time.
Two goals from the unlikely hero Nico O’Reilly, the second assisted by Portugal’s Matheus Nunes, secured a 2-0 victory for Manchester City over Arsenal in today’s final.
The 21-year-old English defender stepped in for Norwegian striker Erling Haaland in the final held at Wembley Stadium and scored twice in just four minutes, at the 60th and 64th minutes, capitalizing on a costly mistake by Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and a precise assist from Matheus Nunes.
Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) opted to give backup goalkeepers a chance, but while James Trafford performed solidly in place of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Arrizabalaga’s errors made Arsenal fans long for compatriot David Raya.
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Manchester City showed greater strength and efficiency in the showdown between the league’s top two teams and secured their ninth League Cup title, five years after their last triumph, now just one behind record holders Liverpool, who have 10 titles.
For Guardiola, it was his fifth League Cup win as manager of City, while Arteta will have to wait longer to claim his first with Arsenal — who last won the competition in 1993.
Arsenal started strongly and nearly scored three times in a single move as early as the seventh minute, but Trafford denied Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. Despite the intense pace, the first half ended without further major chances.
Manchester City seemed to save their energy for the second half and, under heavy pressure, Arrizabalaga made his first mistake — a poor attempt to intercept Jérémy Doku that resulted in a foul which could have led to his dismissal.
His second mistake, in the 60th minute, proved decisive. The Spanish goalkeeper — still the most expensive in football history (€80 million paid by Chelsea to Athletic Bilbao in 2018) — fumbled a cross from Rayan Cherki, allowing O’Reilly to head the ball into the net.
The English defender doubled the lead four minutes later, again with a precise header, following a perfectly delivered cross from Matheus Nunes, who, like Portugal teammate Bernardo Silva, played the full match and was highly influential for City, who were without Rúben Dias due to injury.
Arsenal realized their chances of winning a third League Cup were slim but kept pushing. This was evident in the 78th and 88th minutes, when substitutes Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus hit the post and crossbar, respectively.
