Manchester City have lifted the EFL Cup after beating Arsenal 2-0 in this afternoon's final at Wembley Stadium.
Nico O'Reilly was the hero of the hour, netting twice in the second half to hand City their first major domestic silverware of the campaign.
Both goals came from headers within four minutes of each other, leaving Arsenal shell-shocked as their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple came crashing down.
It was a tale of two halves at the home of English football, with Arsenal looking the stronger side early on before City took complete control after the break.
Nico O'Reilly scored twice to become a Manchester City hero
|REUTERS
Kepa Arrizabalaga will want to forget his afternoon at Wembley after a dreadful mistake handed City the breakthrough on the hour mark.
The Spanish keeper, chosen over first-choice David Raya for the cup competition, let Rayan Cherki's cross from the right slip straight through his grasp.
O'Reilly was waiting at the far post and couldn't believe his luck, nodding into an empty net from close range.
Things went from bad to worse for Arsenal just four minutes later when O'Reilly rose to meet Matheus Nunes' delivery, heading home his second after excellent build-up play involving Rodri.
"Kepa's lost it, AND O'REILLY HAS STOLEN!"
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 22, 2026
Manchester City take the lead at Wembley! 👊 pic.twitter.com/L9KFaERBmn
O'Reilly couldn't hide his delight when speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle.
"Unbelievable feeling," he said. "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."
The double goalscorer admitted he was in "a bit of disbelief" watching the City supporters celebrate his strikes, calling it "a great birthday weekend."
His entire family had made the trip to Wembley to watch him shine on the biggest stage.
"They are all in the stand and I know they will be buzzing. I can't wait to celebrate with them," O'Reilly added.
Manchester City have won the Carabao Cup but still have high hopes of winning the Premier League
|REUTERS
The victory marks a record fifth League Cup triumph for Pep Guardiola, cementing his remarkable dominance in this competition during his time at the Etihad.
For Arsenal, it was a bitter end to their hopes of claiming four trophies this season, with this being their first cup final since lifting the FA Cup back in 2020.
The Gunners did rally late on, with substitutes Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus both striking the woodwork as they desperately sought a way back into the contest.
Bernardo Silva lifts the Carabao Cup for Manchester City! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MgVg5CP8tT
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 22, 2026
But City's experience shone through as they comfortably saw out the closing stages, leaving Mikel Arteta's side to reflect on what might have been.