Manchester City crushed Arsenal’s hopes of winning a historic quadruple this season with a dominant 2-0 victory in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Nico O’Reilly was the hero for City – with the academy graduate scoring two headers in the space of four minutes in the second half at Wembley.
It was a landmark triumph for Pep Guardiola who is now the most successful manager in English League Cup history having won the competition five times, and all with City.
However, for Arsenal and their boss Mikel Arteta they must wait to claim their first silverware since the FA Cup in 2020.
After a tame first half, City broke the deadlock on the hour mark through an Arsenal mistake. Arteta kept faith with second-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in this competition, instead of David Raya, but that decision backfired when he dropped Rayan Cherki’s cross for O’Reilly to score from close range.
Arsenal were not afforded time to recover and regroup as City doubled their lead just four minutes later when O’Reilly soared at the back post to head home Matheus Nunes’ cross.
The Gunners made a plethora of attacking substitutes but City were largely unfazed by their opponents. However, Arsenal did hit the crossbar late on through a Gabriel Jesus header.
Pep Guardiola plays down Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes
Despite the victory, Guardiola does not believe their Carabao Cup success will give them an advantage in the Premier League title race – with rivals Arsenal nine points clear, albeit having played a game more.
‘I would love to have nine points in front, to be honest. It is in their hands,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I need, personally, an incredible break. I’m exhausted and then after it is step by step.
‘(Against) Nottingham (Forest) and West Ham, the dropped points there punished us a lot. But one game in hand, they come to our stadium with our people – we will try.’
Mikel Arteta has no regrets over his team selection
Meanwhile Arteta defended his decision to keep faith with Arrizabalaga, who has played in the League Cup this season, after the Spaniard’s mistake led to the first of O’Reilly’s two goals.
‘I made a decision before the game based on what he has done all season, the fact he has played in the competition and helped us be where we are today,’ the Gunners boss told BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘It would have been very unfair to choose a different one.’
He reiterated that viewpoint on Sky Sports saying: ‘I would do it again because he deserves to play this game. He has been phenomenal for us. Errors are part of football and anyone can make them.’
