ARSENAL 0-2 MAN CITY: Nico O'Reilly's double saw Pep Guardiola's side record another memorable Wembley victory to claim the Carabao Cup
18:34, 22 Mar 2026Updated 18:51, 22 Mar 2026
Gabriel
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Gabriel consolled Kepa following his error for Man City's opener against Arsenal
Arsenal were beaten 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final as Manchester City's makeshift full-back Nico O'Reilly scored two second-half headers to down the Gunners.
The Premier League leaders started well at Wembley but fell away and ultimately failed to get out of first gear after returning to the field following the half-time interval.
The Gunners' Quadruple dream is now over but they remain in the hunt for three other big prizes and work towards those will resume after the international break.
Here are four talking points from Wembley as City landed a big punch on their top-flight title rivals.
Arsenal reaction to Kepa error
You couldn't help but feel Kepa Arrizabalaga would have a big part to play in this final following his inclusion in the starting XI over David Raya.
Arsenal's second-choice goalkeeper has plenty of history at Wembley having skied the decisive penalty in the 2022 final and also refusing to be substituted in the 2019 final ahead of the shootout.
His fumble for the opener will not live long in the memory either as Nico O'Reilly nodded City ahead following the Spaniard's mishap.
Martin Zubimendi collapsed to the turf while Kepa looked distraught. However, Gabriel Magalhaes picked the pair up off the floor in a bid to rally the troops.
The problem was, no other player appeared to have any form of belief Arsenal could fight their way back into the game.
Gabriel tried to spur them on but look around and Arsenal's stars looked well beaten - even though they had only fell just a goal behind - and their body language was incredibly negative.
There was also no form of communication as they marched back towards the centre circle and you couldn't shift that City were in the ascendancy.
It must be noted, Gabriel was the first to console Kepa after the full-time whistle, too. It was a touch of class from the Brazilian.
Arsenal were poor, regardless of Kepa's blunder and the defeat cannot be solely attributed to his inclusion. But Raya is undoubtedly the superior goalkeeper and perhaps Arteta will wonder whether he should have started his No.1.
Nico O'Reilly
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Nico O'Reilly was at the double for Man City against Arsenal
Saliba relishes Haaland battle
Interestingly, following several unmissable matchups with Gabriel Magalhaes in previous meetings between the two sides, Erling Haaland attached himself to William Saliba.
But the truth is, the Frenchman was strong and up for the task against the imposing Norwegian centre-forward. Haaland was keen to wrestle and grapple with Saliba, however, the latter showcased his physical presence and muscle to frustrate his opposite number.
Saliba was also assured on the ball during the first half and played several bright passes upfield as City tried to press him.
In the end, Haaland had the last laugh as City claimed the trophy but the two sides will meet again next month in the Premier League and Saliba will feel cautiously optimistic he can nullify the giant centre-forward, which might be key to victory.
Ben White runs out of gas
There's no doubt the absence of Jurrien Timber was a major blow for Arsenal but Ben White looked fairly assured up against Jeremy Doku in the first half.
The Belgian is a notoriously tricky customer with his speedy jinks but White was solid defensively and an outlet when Arsenal were in possession. He started the game really positively, spraying a lofted ball in behind Manchester City's backline that startled Nathan Ake.
White has endured an injury-hit campaign and only recently returned from a hamstring issue but he did not look out of place in Arsenal's defence.
That's until the second half when he ran out of steam and his lack of match fitness really told. He played 69 minutes against Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week but he's short of sharpness and Doku wouldn't let him breathe as he continually drove at the right-back.
Arsenal didn't have a back-up in reserve, so White undeniably suffered.
William Saliba
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William Saliba did well up against Erling Haaland
Hincapie hindered by yellow
Piero Hincapie was the first booking of the game after he appeared to crash into Matheus Nunes after 15 minutes. Replays showed a slip from Nunes made the tackle look far worse than it actually was.
Nonetheless, it meant the Ecuadorian was walking a tightrope and Antoine Semenyo had plenty of joy in the second half of the first-half down the City right.
Semenyo can play on either flank but here he made several dangerous drives down the wing before firing cross into the box.
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Unfortunately for City, they continued to evade Erling Haaland but if City were to score, at the time, it looked like Semenyo would be the architect of the goal.
Both goals did eventually come down Arsenal's left flank, though not courtesy of Semenyo and by the time Arteta made a change - bringing on Riccardo Calafiori, who was impressive, in place of Hincapie - it was all too late.
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