Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final thanks to a Nico O'Reilly brace.
Mikel Arteta reacts as Manchester City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final
Mikel Arteta reacts as Manchester City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final(Image: Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
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Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has insisted his side will use the defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final as fuel for the remainder of the season. The Blues were good value for the win at Wembley Stadium having dominated the second half after an even first 45 minutes.
Kepa Arrizabalaga's mistake on the hour mark gave City the lead as he fumbled Rayan Cherki's cross for Nico O'Reilly to head home. Moments later, the Blues added a second when Matheus Nunes' cross was powered in by O'Reilly. When asked for his thoughts after the match, Arteta insisted his team would use the defeat as motivation.
"Very sad, a hard one to take. We know for our supporters how much it means to them," he said. "We're going to use it as fire in the belly. We'll manage the energy in the right way. We'll go through the pain and disappointment; it's part of football.
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"We played 50 games before today? Every time we have a draw or a defeat, we have to prove it, we have to do it again. We have a recent history of how this team has responded in these moments."
City and Arsenal are battling it out at the top of the Premier League with the Gunners boasting a nine-point advantage. However, the Blues have a game in hand over Arteta's men and still have to face them at the Etihad Stadium next month.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Pep Guardiola insisted he would rather be in Arsenal's position in the Premier League and played down talk of whether the Carabao Cup win could have an impact on the title race. "I would love to be nine points in front, to be honest. It's in their hands," he explained.
"We need time, an incredible break. I am exhausted and after we see step by step."
When City return from the international break, they will face Liverpool in the FA Cup. The Blues then return to Premier League action on April 12 at Chelsea.