LONDON — Nico O’Reilly’s second-half double secured a 2-0 victory for Manchester City over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, marking Pep Guardiola’s 19th trophy as manager.
After a cautious first half with limited chances, City seized control at the hour mark due to a costly error by Arsenal’s stand-in goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Unable to handle Rayan Cherki‘s cross, Kepa only managed to graze it, allowing O’Reilly to score with a close-range header after beating Martín Zubimendi to the ball.
City extended their lead just four minutes later when Cherki set up Matheus Nunes, whose cross found O’Reilly positioned similarly to net his second.
This defeat crushes Arsenal’s hopes of achieving an unprecedented quadruple and prolongs their pursuit of silverware, which has lingered for six years. Meanwhile, City aims to use this momentum to close the nine-point gap to the Gunners in the Premier League. — James Olley
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Arsenal’s Trophy Drought Persists
Arsenal finds itself in a peculiar position: they were vying for a quadruple while facing skepticism about their ability to win any trophies at all.
It’s been six years since their last piece of silverware, the 2020 FA Cup, but manager Mikel Arteta has done transformative work to make them competitive. However, after finishing second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons, the pressing question remains: can they finally secure a title?
At Wembley, the answer was no. Arsenal’s overly cautious approach, focusing more on defense than creating goal-scoring opportunities, cost them dearly.
After a tentative start, Arsenal failed to maintain pressure and their second-half performance was disappointingly lackluster. Yet, they still enjoy a solid nine-point lead atop the Premier League, with Champions League and FA Cup ties looming.
While their season has the potential to be remarkable, victories seldom come without effort. Arsenal’s ability to seize these opportunities remains in question. — Olley
City Sends a Warning in the Premier League Title Race
During his pre-match press conference, Guardiola refused to link the cup final’s outcome to the league title race.
“Winning the final doesn’t guarantee success in the league,” he stated.
This might be a valid point, but it disregards the rising anxiety among Arsenal’s fans, who are chasing their first Premier League title in over two decades. Currently nine points ahead, the title is in their possession, but City has a game in hand and Arsenal will face them at the Etihad in April. A misstep from Arteta’s squad could reignite the race.
Though the match at Wembley held no league points, many Arsenal supporters left concerned about what the upcoming weeks may bring.
The persistent question has been whether they possess the mental strength to prevail under pressure. The true impact of a cup final loss to City remains to be seen, starting with their next league match against Bournemouth at the Emirates on April 11. — Rob Dawson
O’Reilly: The Face of Man City’s New Generation
For Bernardo Silva, this victory marked his fifth Carabao Cup trophy. For O’Reilly, however, it was his first medal with the club. Silva represents the remaining core of the 2022-23 treble-winning squad and is likely to depart in the summer alongside Guardiola.
City’s new generation is emerging around players like Marc Guéhi, Antoine Semenyo, and Rayan Cherki. As a product of the club’s academy, O’Reilly is a crucial figure in this transition.
Having turned 21 just a day before the final, O’Reilly’s future is promising. He played at left back against Arsenal, but his more natural position in midfield is likely where he’ll find a permanent role as his career develops.
No matter where he plays, O’Reilly is poised to become a leading figure in City’s next chapter, potentially marked by Guardiola’s absence and the departure of long-serving players like Silva. Depending on how the next two months unfold, this could be Guardiola’s final trophy at City, while it’s likely to be only the first of many for O’Reilly. — Dawson
1:51
Guardiola admits he’s surprised by Nico O’Reilly’s performances
Pep Guardiola shares his astonishment at Nico O’Reilly’s impact since joining the Manchester City squad.
Backup Goalkeepers Played a Key Role in the Cup Final
Neither team opted for their first-choice goalkeeper in the final. Guardiola had announced that James Trafford would represent City, while Arteta, although aware of his decision, did not reveal Kepa’s start until match day.
The two goalkeepers experienced vastly different outcomes. Trafford executed an outstanding triple save from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka (twice) early in the game, while Kepa’s mistake ultimately tilted the match in City’s favor. Following a deflected cross from Cherki, Kepa could only manage a touch that took speed off the ball, allowing O’Reilly to capitalize.
Kepa’s turbulent history with this fixture includes a refusal to be substituted during a previous final against City in 2019 and missing a shootout against Liverpool three years later.
Despite Kepa starting every match in this tournament, his continued inclusion may haunt Arteta, especially considering the prowess of David Raya. Trafford may depart City shortly after joining, hoping for a more significant role but overshadowed by the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Nevertheless, he made crucial contributions to help City secure the trophy. — Olley
0:38
Arteta justifies his decision to start Kepa in the Carabao Cup final defeat
Mikel Arteta discusses his reasoning for selecting Kepa ahead of first-choice goalkeeper David Raya for the cup final.
Haaland Still Searching for a Goal in Finals
There were earlier doubts about City’s dependence on Erling Haaland, who had been a goal-scoring machine.
On this occasion, Haaland finished without scoring, yet City managed to clinch victory. His performance has waned recently, and this trend continued in the final against Arsenal as he last scored in a cup final back in 2021 with Borussia Dortmund.
Ultimately, O’Reilly stepped up from his left-back position to score two quick headers that sealed the win.
He was named man of the match, although Cherki, influential in both goals, could have easily received that honor. The Frenchman proved to be a standout performer and was able to generate genuine chances against Arsenal’s defense.
In his first season at City after joining from Lyon, Cherki has already secured at least one trophy, with much more potential for the future. — Dawson