Nico O’Reilly’s headed brace saw Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 to win the 2025-26 Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium, London.
O’Reilly headed City in front with a 60th-minute header as he pounced upon Kepa Arrizabalaga’s fumbled save of Rayan Cherki’s shot.
The 21-year-old then became the 14th player to score a brace in a League Cup Final as he doubled their lead with a 64th-minute header of Matheus Nunes’ cross, which sealed City’s ninth title in the competition’s history.
With high hopes of a first cup title since they won the FA Cup in August 2020 and sat top of the Premier League with a nine-point lead over Man City, Arsenal began the final on the front foot as Ben White combined with Martin Zubimendi to set up Kai Havertz whose shot was blocked.
City’s goalkeeper, James Trafford subsequently blocked two quick-fire follow-up shots from Bukayo Saka following Havertz’s effort
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners proceeded to control the first half in which Leandro Trossard saw a 13th-minute shot deflected, whilst Piero Hincapie’s 38th-minute header was saved as City failed to even muster a single shot to test Kepa Arrizabalaga until Erling Haaland nodded wide in the 45th minute.
That wasted header sparked City into life as they displayed more urgency in the second half but lacked much end product aside from two wide shots from Antoine Semenyo.
City’s improvement eventually paid off as a move on the hour mark was worked across to Cherki, who calmly smashed his shot high towards the roof of the net, yet Arrizabalaga let the ball fly through his hands and O’Reilly was there to nod City ahead from close range.
Arsenal failed to heed that warning and were punished further just four minutes later, as Jeremy Doku pulled the ball back across to the right flank, where Nunes was played forward to chip a cross into the box which found O’Reilly to nod in to double City’s lead.
City proceeded to control the game as Arsenal desperately chased two goals to at least force extra time, yet their best chances fell to substitute – Riccardo Calafiori who headed straight into James Trafford’s arms then dragged a low shot wide of the far-bottom right corner.
Man City eventually clung on to secure a ninth title in this competition, of which five of those titles have been won under Pep Guardiola who has become the first ever manager to achieve five League Cup titles.
What’s Next?
Arsenal turn their attention to the FA Cup after the international break as they visit Southampton in their Quarter-Final tie on Easter Saturday 4 April at 8pm BST.
Man City too are in FA Cup Quarter-Final action on the same date, as they host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in a 12:45pm kick-off.
Teams
Arsenal: Kepa Arrizabalga, Ben White (Jesus 82′), William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie (Calafiori 65′), Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz (Madueke 66′), Leandro Trossard (Martinelli 82′), Viktor Gyokeres
Substitutes: Riccardo Calafiori, Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Cristhian Mosquera, David Raya, Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus
Man City: James Trafford, Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Nico O’Reilly, Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland
Substitutes: Rayan Ait-Nouri, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden, Nicolas Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Omar Marmoush, Savinho,, Tijani Reijnders, John Stones
Referee – Peter Bankes
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