Manchester City have been crowned champions of the 2026 Carabao Cup after a commanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
The final, played on Sunday, saw City secure their ninth League Cup title, further cementing their dominance in English football. After a tightly contested and goalless first half, the breakthrough came in the 60th minute through 21-year-old academy graduate Nico O’Reilly, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to head City into the lead.
O’Reilly struck again just four minutes later, doubling City’s advantage with another well-taken header to put the game beyond Arsenal’s reach.
Earlier in the match, Arsenal had started brightly, but their efforts were denied by a series of crucial saves from City goalkeeper James Trafford, whose performance ensured his side remained level before the breakthrough.
Despite their early momentum, Arsenal struggled to break down a disciplined City defence and were unable to mount a comeback.
The victory marks a historic milestone for manager Pep Guardiola, who claims his fifth League Cup title, becoming the most successful manager in the competition’s history.
For Manchester City, the triumph represents another major achievement in what is shaping up to be a successful season, while Arsenal will be left to reflect after falling short in their bid to win their first League Cup title since 1993.
