Arsenal 0 – 2 Manchester City – Match Report

We missed out on the opportunity to grab our first piece of silverware of the season as two goals from Nico O’Reilly saw Manchester City claim the Carabao Cup at Wembley.

Despite us looking bright in attack and defensively solid, forcing City keeper James Trafford into some early heroics, the Sky Blues improved after the break and the game’s key moments came within four minutes of each other.

O’Reilly pounced on a dropped catch by Kepa Arrizabalaga to nod City ahead before the 21-year-old added a killer second when he stole in unmarked to again plant the ball home with his head, ensuring we lost our seventh League Cup final.

Trafford’s triple

The usual pre-final tifos, on-pitch displays, and pyrotechnics greeted the players as they entered the Wembley arena, but perhaps inspired by the big-occasion feel, we began with a spring in our step and began peppering James Trafford’s goal. Having played in every round, City’s second-choice keeper had been given the nod to start the final and just six minutes had elapsed when he made three first-class stops within 10 seconds.

A neat Martin Zubimendi through-ball caused the damage, allowing Kai Havertz to go one-on-one with Trafford but he stayed big to make the block. The ball fell for our skipper Bukayo Saka who again saw a shot hit the chest of the City shot-stopper, and then with his second attempt, a leg was required to prevent us getting in front.

After those early sights of goal, chances dried up and in fact, we passed the 40-minute mark without Kepa Arrizabalaga being troubled at all, despite Pep Guardiola’s team enjoying plenty of possession but unable to get off a shot.

However we had little to show for our attacking intent either, with the next biggest chance falling Piero Hincapie’s way from a Saka corner on 37 minutes, but his header looped over the top. In the final minute of the half, Erling Haaland did the same after good work by the lively Jeremy Doku, as a tight opening 45 came to an end with things evenly poised.

O’Reilly’s double

Both teams attacked towards their supporters behind each goal after the restart, but the opening half of the second half saw the Citizens crank the pressure up as they clicked into another gear.

Rodri and Antoine Semenyo both saw efforts fly off target, and some excellent defending by William Saliba nicked the ball off Haaland’s toe just as he tined up a crack. But just before the hour mark, City got themselves in front.

A cross-field pass by Rodri to Bernando Silva saw him nudge the ball down the right to Rayan Cherki, whose high cross was fumbled by Arrizabalaga. That allowed the ball to drop behind him, and O’Reilly nipped in ahead of Zubimendi to nod the ball over the line from close range and hand the advantage to City.

Arteta lined up a couple of changes to try and alter our fortunes, but before he could get Riccardo Calafiori and Noni Madueke on, we slipped further behind.

After Doku again probed in the area, the ball was recycled out to Matheus Nunes on the right to link up with Rodri. He played a neat reverse pass into the full-back’s path, who had time to put the ball into a dangerous position, and O’Reilly, having made a 20-yard run from deep, headed back across Arrizabalaga and into the far corner to give us a mountain to climb.

Late push

We had eight different goalscorers in the League Cup this season excluding own goals, with no Gunner netting more than once – but we desperately needed someone to step up with a key goal to try and breathe life into our cup hopes.

In an attempt to get us back within touching distance, Calafiori saw a header blocked and then drove forward down the left and flashed a cross-shot across the area which missed Leandro Trossard by millimetres and shaved the far post of Trafford’s goalframe.

We kept pushing and with three minutes to play the woodwork was rattled by ex-City man Gabriel Jesus when he saw a header loop over Trafford but strike the top of the bar as our last opportunity to set up a grandstand finish slipped away, as City saw their name engraved on the trophy for the ninth time, and Guardiola claim a record fifth win as a manager.

What’s next

We now have a fortnight-long international break, and will next be in action when we travel to Southampton for our FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, April 4. Then we head to Portugal for our Champions League last-eight meeting with Sporting CP, and then on Saturday, April 11 we’re back in N5 to face Bournemouth in the Premier League.