Arsenal’s plane becomes the first hole when Manchester City snatches the Carabao Cup from Mikel Arteta
Arsenal’s unfortunate pattern has begun to take shape again, and this time it comes 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 minutes of the second half to decide the game.
For a team leading the Premier League, in the Champions League quarter-finals against Sporting CP, and still in the FA Cup, this was an obvious result. Instead, their quadruple hopes are dashed, and questions about handling big games are back.
The first half was controlled but flat. Arsenal had more possession but did little with it. The city stood tight and waited for errors.
Just after the hour mark the game turned, and quickly.
Kepa’s scary night at Wembley
Arteta stuck with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had played every round of the competition. The decision did not work.
Kepa looked uncertain early in the second half when he ran in and fouled Jeremy Doku, earning him a yellow card.
In the 60th minute he made an even bigger mistake. A routine cross slipped through his hands and fell to Nico O’Reilly, who gave City the lead.
After four minutes the score was 2-0. Matthias Nunes delivered a cross and O’Reilly scored again with a clean header.
Arsenal pushed forward but lacked quality in the final third. He hit the bar late on but couldn’t do enough to trouble City.
Kepa’s errors changed the game and Arsenal never recovered.
Nico O’Reilly extends Dream Week
Nico O’Reilly made the difference.
The 21-year-old scored both goals in quick succession to book a place in the final. His first reaction came by reacting to Kepa’s mistake. The second was a well-timed header from Nunes’ cross.
It’s been a strong week for the youngster after joining the England squad and celebrating his birthday.
For Guardiola, this is his fifth League Cup title, the most by any manager in the competition.
City won their first trophy of the season.
Arsenal remain in the race for the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles. But this result ruins their chances of winning it all and the focus turns to how they perform in the deciding games.
– ends