Arsenal’s unfortunate pattern began to emerge again and this time they came with silverware on the line. Mikel Arteta’s side lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice in four second-half minutes to decide the match.
For a team that led the Premier League, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Sporting CP and in the FA Cup, this should have been the result. Instead, their top-four hopes ended and questions about their big-game control returned.
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The first half was controlled but balanced. Arsenal had more possession but did little with it. City stayed compact and waited for mistakes.
The game turned just after the hour and turned quickly.
KEPA HORROR NIGHT AT WEMBLEY
Arteta stuck with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who played every round in the competition. The decision didn’t work.
Kepa already looked shaky early in the second half when he lunged and fouled Jeremy Doku, earning himself a yellow card.
He made a bigger mistake in the 60th minute. A routine cross slipped through his hands and fell to Nico O’Reilly to send City into the lead.
Four minutes later it was already 2:0. Matheus Nunes crossed and O’Reilly scored again with a clean header.
Arsenal pushed forward but lacked quality in the final third. They hit the post late on but didn’t do enough to trouble City.
Kepa’s mistakes changed the game and Arsenal never recovered.
NICO O’REILLY EXTENDS SLEEP WEEK
Nico O’Reilly made the difference.
The 21-year-old scored both goals in quick succession to level the final. His first came from reacting to Kep’s mistake. The second was a well-timed header from Nunes’ cross.
It capped off a strong week for the youngster following his call-up to England and his birthday.
It is Guardiola’s fifth League Cup title, the most of any manager in the competition.
City will win their first trophy of the season.
Arsenal remain in contention for the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles. However, this result ends their chances of winning and it’s back to focusing on how they perform in the deciders.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
March 23, 2026 0:38 AM IST
