Carabao Cup final ratings: O'Reilly faultless as Arsenal fall hopelessly flat

Wembley, Sunday – Manchester City lifted a record-extending fifth Carabao Cup and Pep Guardiola’s 19th trophy as manager with a ruthless 2-0 dismissal of Arsenal, the story of the afternoon distilled into four second-half minutes when 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly punished a goalkeeper haunted by ghosts of finals past.

The teenager, nominally starting at left-back, finished as match-winner, burying two headers in quick succession to turn a tight contest into a procession. Both finishes were born of conviction: the first, on 68 minutes, when Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged a teasing cross from Jeremy Doku and O’Reilly attacked the loose ball; the second, four minutes later, when he ghosted in at the far post to convert Matheus Nunes’ delivery. In a stat that underlined his predatory instinct, O’Reilly’s only two touches inside the Arsenal box produced goals.

For Kepa, the nightmare was familiar. The Spain international, remembered for refusing substitution in the 2019 League Cup final and for failing to stop any of Liverpool’s 11 penalties in the 2022 shoot-out, again found himself the unfortunate protagonist. After flapping at Doku’s initial centre, he was beaten to the rebound by O’Reilly; the second strike slipped beneath his despairing dive. From that moment Arsenal’s resistance evaporated.

Guardiola’s side, shorn of both first-choice centre-backs, controlled every department. Rodri touched the ball 103 times, completed 14 passes into the final third and screened with imperial authority. Bernardo Silva, indefatigable, recovered possession nine times—more than any player on the pitch—while Bernardo’s compatriot Doku tormented full-back Hincapié, winning 12 duels and completing six dribbles. City’s width and relentless pressing forced Arsenal backwards; the Gunners mustered no shot of note after the 12-minute mark.

Arsenal’s attacking trident barely left a footprint. Bukayo Saka, remarkably appearing in his first cup final for the club, saw an early effort tipped onto the woodwork by James Trafford but faded to extend a run of two goals in 24 games. Leandro Trossard was anonymous, Viktor Gyokeres failed to register a single attempt, and Kai Havertz, substituted after 65 minutes, never imposed himself. Behind them Declan Rice, so often the heartbeat, was subdued, attempting only 23 accurate passes as City’s midfield monopolised the ball.

Defensively the Gunners were stretched. Centre-back William Saliba stuck doggedly to Erling Haaland yet received scant protection; left-sided Hincapie, booked before half-time, was repeatedly isolated against Doku and Semenyo, and both goals originated down his channel. Ben White, diligent in his own box, could not provide the customary attacking overlap, stifled by City’s disciplined set-piece defence.

City’s collective maturity contrasted sharply with Arsenal’s stage-fright. Manuel Akanji led by example, winning every aerial duel, while stand-in full-back Sergio Gomez offered width and security, registering nine recoveries and six duels won. Between the posts Trafford enjoyed relative calm after early heroics, parrying efforts from Saka and Calafiori when the game was still in the balance.

The victory continues City’s domestic cup dominance and leaves Arsenal to reflect on a fourth consecutive defeat in major finals. For O’Reilly, the night belonged to him alone: a local product announcing himself on the national stage with the coolness of a seasoned striker rather than a makeshift defender. Guardiola hailed another milestone; Arsenal, meanwhile, depart Wembley with questions louder than the answers provided across a chastening 90 minutes.