Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2–0 at Wembley Stadium to win the 2026 EFL Cup, with a second-half brace from Nico O’Reilly securing the trophy.
After a goalless first half, City found their breakthrough in the 60th minute and quickly doubled their lead just four minutes later, leaving Arsenal unable to respond.
The opening goal came after a costly mistake by Kepa Arrizabalaga, whose error allowed O’Reilly to capitalise and put City ahead.
The young midfielder then struck again soon after, heading in from a cross assisted by Matheus Nunes to give City full control of the final.
“Unbelievable feeling. To win a final, to beat this team, we know how good they are. We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today. Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend.” O’Reilly said after the game.
City dominated the second half with authority, showcasing their attacking depth and composure in a major final.
Arsenal struggled to create clear chances despite late efforts from players like Bukayo Saka, while City comfortably managed the closing stages of the match.
The victory marks another milestone for manager Pep Guardiola, who becomes the first coach to win the EFL Cup five times.
Guardiola appeared emotional at full-time, celebrating with staff and players after another successful domestic campaign.
For Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to secure their first major trophy since 2020, with the team’s fans began leaving Wembley before the final whistle as City’s supporters celebrated yet another triumph.
Manchester City’s latest success further reinforces their dominance in English football, with this victory marking their ninth EFL Cup title.
Meanwhile, Arsenal must regroup quickly as they look to recover from the disappointment and refocus on their remaining competitions this season.
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