1 hour ago
27
ARSENAL 0-2 MAN CITY: Nico O'Reilly's double saw Pep Guardiola's side record another memorable Wembley victory to claim the Carabao Cup
Arsenal reaction to Kepa error
You couldn't help but feel Kepa Arrizabalaga would have a big part to play in this final following his inclusion in the starting XI over David Raya.
Arsenal's second-choice goalkeeper has plenty of history at Wembley after all having skied the decisive penalty in the 2022 final and refusing to be substituted in the 2019 final for Chelsea.
His fumble for the opener will not live long in the memory either after Nico O'Reilly nodded City ahead following the Spaniard's mishap.
Martin Zubimendi collapsed on the turf while Kepa looked distraught, however, Gabriel Magalhaes picked the pair up off the floor in a bid to rally the troops.
The problem was, nobody else seemed to have any form of belief Arsenal could fight their way back into the game.
Gabriel tried to spur them on but look around and Arsenal's players looked well beaten - even though they had only fell just a goal behind.
There was no form of communication as they marched back towards the centre circle and you couldn't shift that City were in the ascendancy.
In must be noted, Gabriel was the first to console Kepa after the full-time whistle, too. It was a touch of class from the Brazilian.
Arsenal were poor, regardless of Kepa's blunder and the defeat cannot be solely attributed to his inclusion.
But Raya is undoubtedly the superior goalkeeper and perhaps Arteta will wonder whether he should have started his No.1.
Haaland pins himself on Saliba
Interestingly, following several unmissable battles with Gabriel Magalhaes in previous meetings, Erling Haaland attached himself to William Saliba.
But the truth is, the Frenchman was strong and up for the task against the imposing Norwegian centre-forward.
Haaland was keen to wrestle and grapple with Saliba, however, the latter showcased his physical presence and muscle to frustrate his opposite number.
Saliba was also assured on the ball during the first half and played several bright passes upfield as City tried to press him.
In the end, Haaland had the last laugh as City claimed the trophy but the two sides will meet again next month in the Premier League.
Ben White runs out of gas
There's no doubt the absence of Jurrien Timber was a major blow for Arsenal but Ben White looked fairly assured up against Jeremy Doku in the first half.
Doku is a notoriously tricky customer with his speedy jinks but White was solid defensively and an outlet when Arsenal were in possession.
He started the game really positively, spraying a lofted ball in behind Manchester City's backline that startled Nathan Ake.
White has endured an injury-hit campaign and only recently returned from a hamstring issue but he did not look out of place in Arsenal's defence.
That's until the second half when he ran out of steam and his lack of match fitness really told.
He played 69 minutes against Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week but he's short of sharpness and Doku wouldn't let him breathe as he continually drove at the right-back.
Arsenal didn't have a back-up in reserve, so White undeniably suffered.
Hincapie hindered by yellow
Piero Hincapie was the first booking of the game after he appeared to crash into Matheus Nunes after 15 minutes.
Replays showed a slip from Nunes made the tackle look far worse than it actually was.
Nonetheless, it meant the Ecuadorian was walking a tightrope and Antoine Semenyo had plenty of joy in the second half of the first-half down the City right.
Semenyo can play on either flank but here he made several dangerous drives down the wing before firing cross into the box.
Unfortunately for City, they continued to evade Erling Haaland but if City were to score, at the time, it looked like Semenyo would be the architect of the goal.
Both goals did eventually come down Arsenal's left flank and by the time Arteta made a change - bringing on Riccardo Calafiori who was impressive - it was all too late.
English (US) ·