Arsenal vs Manchester City live updates: Carabao Cup final predictions, team news and latest score

Wembley Stadium, London – Manchester City captured their ninth Carabao Cup and first trophy of the Pep Guardiola 2.0 era as 21-year-old academy graduate Nico O’Reilly’s quick-fire second-half double shattered Arsenal’s quadruple dream and kept City’s own domestic treble hopes alive.

The turning point arrived on the hour mark. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, preferred to David Raya throughout the competition, spilled Rayan Cherki’s teasing cross and O’Reilly reacted fastest to head into an empty net. Four minutes later the same player stole in front of Ben White to nod Matheus Nunes’ clipped delivery beyond the Spaniard and effectively end the contest at 2-0.

Arsenal had begun brightly, fashioning the clearest opening of the first half when a low drive was clawed away by James Trafford, but the Gunners faded after the interval. “We suffocated them for 15 minutes,” Guardiola said, “then we found our rhythm. A fifth League Cup in ten years is not bad.”

Mikel Arteta refused to blame Kepa despite the decisive error. “He deserves to play; I would make the same decision again,” the Arsenal boss insisted, calling the defeat “a painful lesson” his side must use as fuel for a season that still offers Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League routes to glory.

City, eliminated from Europe by Real Madrid in mid-week, celebrated a first piece of silverware for new signings Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki and match-winner O’Reilly. “To get the first trophy relieves pressure,” Bernardo Silva told Sky Sports. “Now we want to repeat the feeling.”

Attention now shifts to April’s sprint for further honours. City host Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on 4 April, while Arsenal visit Southampton on the same day before travelling to Sporting CP in the Champions League last eight. The sides are scheduled to meet again at the Etihad on 19 April in what could be a Premier League title decider; City trail the leaders by nine points but hold a game in hand.

Guardiola praised the mentality of his evolving squad, labelling O’Reilly’s emergence “maybe the signing of the season,” and warned Arsenal the best may be yet to come. “The way we played in the second half is good enough to beat every team in world football,” he said.

For Arsenal the immediate task is psychological. Arteta’s men had not lost to City in six previous meetings and still boast a healthy league cushion, yet Sunday’s defeat exposes the fine margins at the summit of the English game. “We have two weeks to reset,” Arteta noted, “and two amazing months to finish the season.”

City depart Wembley buoyant, their domestic treble quest intact; Arsenal leave with scars but also clarity: every remaining fixture is now a cup final.