21y/o O’Reilly Scores Brace as Manchester City Beat Arsenal 2-0 to Win Carabao Cup

Ademola Busayo Posted on 1 hour ago 2 minutes read

The 21-year-old Academy graduate was the hero from left-back, getting into the box twice in five minutes to head home and ensure an unforgettable occasion.

In what was the first ever League Cup final between the top two sides in the country, the Blues were more than a match for the current Premier League leaders every step of the way in and out of possession.

It means yet more history for Pep Guardiola, who has now claimed 19 major honours as City boss and becomes the first manager to win this competition five times.

Meanwhile, our tally of nine triumphs in the League Cup is second only to Liverpool on 10.

And with the Premier League and FA Cup still to play for in 2025/26, Guardiola will be hoping the performance acts as a catalyst for the final two months of the campaign.

It was Arsenal who made the early running under Wembley’s arch, with James Trafford forced into a stunning triple save to deny Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka twice in the seventh minute.

That buoyed our fantastic travelling support and the Blues enjoyed more possession from there, with wingers Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo regularly taking their full-backs on.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made a raft of changes in an attempt to get back into the game, with substitute Riccardo Calafiori initially coming closest by glancing the post from 12 yards out.

Gabriel then looped a header on to the crossbar as the 90-minute mark approached.

This was our 22nd visit to Wembley since Pep Guardiola took charge back in the summer of 2016.

City win the League Cup for a ninth time in there history. Only Liverpool, on 10, have ever lifted the trophy more times than us.

By claiming his fifth winner’s medal, Pep Guardiola has now set the record for the most League Cup successes as a manager. He’s moved ahead of Brian Clough, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.