Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal to win the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice to seal the triumph.

The breakthrough came in the second half after a costly mistake by Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who failed to hold onto a cross from Rayan Cherki, allowing O’Reilly to convert from close range.

Just four minutes later, O’Reilly struck again, heading home from a well-delivered cross to double City’s advantage and effectively put the game beyond Arsenal’s reach.

The win marks City’s ninth League Cup title and a record fifth in the competition for manager Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opted to start Kepa ahead of first-choice goalkeeper David Raya, a decision that ultimately proved costly given the Spaniard’s error.

Despite a bright start from Arsenal, including a series of early chances denied by City goalkeeper James Trafford, the North London side struggled to maintain attacking momentum and lacked creativity in key moments.

City, on the other hand, improved significantly after the break, dominating play and capitalising on Arsenal’s defensive lapses.

While the defeat ends Arsenal’s hopes of securing their first trophy since 2020, their season remains active with strong positions in the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.

For Manchester City, the victory provides a much-needed boost after recent setbacks, including their exit from European competition, and could serve as momentum as they aim to close the gap in the league title race.