**Arsenal:** Kepa, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres
**Subs:** Raya, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Dowman, Jesus, Martinelli, Madueke
Arsenal’s wait for silverware goes on after losing 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, after a second half brace from Nico O’Reilly.
Mikel Arteta made two changes from the side that beat Bayer Leverkusen last time out, with Kepa and Kai Havertz starting in place of David Raya and Eberechi Eze.
Eze missed out altogether after suffering a knock against the German side, alongside Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard – but there was a place for Max Dowman on the bench.
**FIRST HALF**
It was a promising start from Arsenal who looked sharp in possession and their first chance(s) came within seven minutes, when some smart combinations around the box saw Martin Zubimendi play Kai Havertz through on goal but his effort was quickly smothered by Trafford.
Trafford was also the hero in that same passage of play, blocking two rebound efforts from Bukayo Saka to keep the score level early doors.
But that early moment set the tone for Arteta’s men who were well on top although Piero Hincapie was booked for a “foul” on Matheus Nunes when replays showed he barely touched the City defender. Moments later, Doku somehow avoided a yellow card for a blatant bodycheck on Saka during an Arsenal break.
With half an hour played, there was more than a bit of needle between the two sides and after Bernardo Silva made three fouls without being booked – Khusanov eventually was after cleaning out Viktor Gyokeres with a strong challenge by the touchline.
City grew into the game and were keeping the ball with more authority, although they weren’t able to create clear chances despite Semenyo giving Hincapie a hard time after his early booking. There was one cross in particular that was inches away from Haaland who was well marshalled by Saliba.
Just before half time, there was a chance for Haaland after Semenyo did well to get to the byline and hang up a cross, but the big centre forward couldn’t get over his header and put his effort well off target.
Arsenal tailed off slightly towards half time but were defensively resolute and disciplined as you would expect, although Semenyo was causing trouble against Hincapie who knew he was treading a tightrope after that (ridiculous) early booking.
**SECOND HALF**
Neither side made a change at half time but City had the early moments when Haaland toe-poked a tame effort towards goal after wriggling away from Saliba, before Kepa was fortunate not to play a major role in conceding after fouling Doku well out of his area.
The Spanish goalkeeper misjudged a long ball from Nunes and instead of clearing the ball, got lost underneath it and pulled Doku back which led to a free kick and yellow card.
City continued to press and now it was Arsenal’s turn to struggle getting out, with all their long balls coming straight back and all the technical quality of Cherki, Bernardo and Rodri was doing damage in midfield.
Eventually that pressure told and it came from O’Reilly who was on hand to head in from close range after Kepa spilled a routine cross from Cherki. It was a big call from Arteta to start the Spaniard and unfortunately it backfired with a poor mistake. [0-1](https://streamff.com/v/73fd868b).
With Arteta readying two changes, City doubled their lead in the blink of an eye when another poor passage of play from Arsenal allowed Nunes to get in behind, whose back post cross was headed in again by O’Reilly who got above Saka. [0-2](https://streamff.com/v/3277eb77).
Arsenal are always capable of defending their box well but these goals were coming from the first kick of the second half, and unfortunately they couldn’t react quickly enough on the pitch – or off it.
Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke were brought on for Hincapie and Havertz (which also pushed Saka into the ten), and Calafiori almost made an instant impact with a header from another Rice set piece but his effort was straight at Trafford.
Calafiori had another moment at the back post after Trossard flicked the ball back, but his left-footed volley flashed across goal and off the post with Trafford beaten.
With ten minutes to play, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus replaced Trossard and White as Arteta rolled the dice one last time. Jesus did have a small sight of goal and headed a looping effort onto the crossbar but that was the best Arsenal could muster all second half and they went out without a fight.
After a bright start, the Gunners were second best across the pitch and didn’t lay a finger on City all afternoon, with Arteta too slow to react when the tide was swinging. A day to dust off your shoulders and move on.