Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City result – Nico O'Reilly scores twice in five minutes as City claim Carabao Cup trophy

Manchester City celebrated their ninth League Cup success after a 2-0 win over Arsenal saw them capture the 2025/26 Carabao Cup at Wembley. Young defender Nico O'Reilly was the hero as he celebrated his 21st birthday weekend with two headed goals in the space of five minutes to give Pep Guardiola a record fifth League Cup success.

In a below-par first half that was largely dominated by Arsenal, City keeper James Trafford came to the fore with a brilliant triple-save to deny Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka (twice) as the Englishman ensured City got to half-time with the score still level.

But, after the teams emerged for the second half, City appeared with renewed energy and immediately put The Gunners under pressure, with wingers Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo a constant threat down their respective flanks.

But, despite the quality at City's disposal, it was an error from Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga that gifted City the opener. The Spanish stopper, usually Arsenal's backup, let a cross from Bernardo Silva slip through his fingers and the loose ball bounced perfectly for O'Reilly to head into an empty net from two yards out.

The goal, and Kepa's mistake, had Arsenal reeling and before they were able to recover, City added a second. Another right-wing cross found O'Reilly arriving late at the back post to plant a thumping header into the far corner and put City into an unassailable lead.

With City 2-0 up, Pep Guardiola's men largely controlled the remainder of the match, with Arsenal struggling to generate any chances of note. Riccardo Calafiore's well-struck volley clipped the outside of the post, while Gabriel Jesus' looping header came back off the crossbar but overall, Arsenal couldn't create the clear-cut chances they needed to get back into the match.

It meant that City ran out 2-0 winners as the club celebrated its ninth League Cup success leaving them just one win behind all-time leaders Liverpool.

The League Cup final hasn't been a happy occasion for Arsenal fans in recent years.

Arsenal won the competition in 1987 and 1993, but despite reaching the final in 2007, 2011, 2018 and in 2026, they have been unable to add to those two trophies in the competition.

Manchester City's 2-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley has elevated boss Pep Guardiola to new heights in the competition's record books.

Guardiola now stands alone as the manager with the most League Cup wins with his fifth success, surpassing managerial greats Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, who all won the cup four times.

It's also City's ninth League Cup win, moving them to within one win of all-time leaders Liverpool on 10.

Yesterday, Nico O'Reilly celebrated his 21st birthday. Today, he's scored twice at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup for Manchester City.

Birthday weekends don't get much better than that.

Manchester City are the winners of the Carabao Cup, and it's all thanks to two second-half headers from a 21-year-old left back.

The Nico O'Reilly Cup Final has given Manchester City their first trophy this season, and Pep Guardiola's record FIFTH League Cup success.

We have FOUR ADDITIONAL MINUTES at the end of this game.

A deep cross from Madueke causes chaos in the City box and a looping header from Jesus comes back off the crossbar.

The loose ball falls to Gyokeres, but it just wouldn't come down quickly enough, and the opportunity is snuffed out by the City defence.

With five minutes left in this game, Arsenal look like a beaten side. They're committing silly fouls out of pure frustration, and it's stopping the game and preventing them from making any sort of inroads towards a goal of their own.

Time is running out on Arteta's men, who need something special, and quick.

Arsenal's substitute left back Calafiore was originally brought on to stem the tide and quieten the threat of Semenyo down that side, but he's also looking to help his side get back into this game.

A deep cross is headed back to the Italian, who knocks the ball up, then volleys a swerving effort that clips the outside of the post and goes wide.

It's the best moment of the second half for Arsenal so far.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are both being prepped for their possible introduction for the Gunners...

It's certainly looking like it so far...

The Gunners look a bit shell-shocked, and for good reason.

They looked the better side for much of the opening half. But since the break, they've been decidedly second best.

Kepa's howler put them behind the 8-ball, and before they had chance to regroup, Nico O'Reilly had added a second goal to put City into a commanding lead.

Mikel Arteta has made two changes in a bid to turn things around, but they alone might not be enough. Arsenal's big players need to stand up and get control of this game, or City could run away with this.

Oh my goodness! What a day for Nico O'Reilly!

The City left back arrives late at the back post to head firmly past Kepa and into the corner to put City into a 2-0 lead, as boss Pep Guardiola goes on a glory run down the touchline.

The young English defender has just scored twice inside five minutes to put his side 2-0 up in the Carabao Cup Final.