Nico O’Reilly scored twice as Manchester City defeated Premier League title rivals Arsenal 2-0 in Sunday’s EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
The first-ever EFL Cup final between the teams sitting first and second in the top-flight table was a slow burner, with the opening half producing just three shots on target – all from Arsenal.
But the Gunners collapsed around the hour mark, with a huge error from cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga allowing O’Reilly – who celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday – to score the first of two headed goals in four minutes.
City were fairly comfortable from then on as Pep Guardiola became the first manager ever to win the EFL Cup on five occasions, while Mikel Arteta’s wait for a first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup continues.
Arsenal made the stronger start, but James Trafford – selected ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma after starting all of City’s matches on the way to the final – produced a triple save to deny Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka in the seventh minute.
A brilliant cross from Antoine Semenyo was just too high for Erling Haaland as City began to settle, though Nathan Ake had to recover well after nearly gifting Arsenal an opening at the other end.
City failed to register a shot on target in the first half, though they could have led when Haaland nodded over from close range in the 45th minute after more fine work from Semenyo down the right.
A misjudgement from Kepa almost let Jeremy Doku in early in the second half, then another major error from the Spaniard – who spilled Rayan Cherki’s cross on the hour – allowed O’Reilly to head in from almost directly under the crossbar.
O’Reilly soon added another headed goal, guiding a looping cross from Matheus Nunes back across Kepa and into the top-right corner.
- Arsenal hit the woodwork twice at 2-0 down, with Riccardo Calafiori’s effort clipping the far post and Gabriel Jesus’ header striking the top of the crossbar, but City held firm for a deserved win.
