London, March 23 – Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup final, with Nico O'Reilly scoring twice in a four-minute burst in the second half to secure the trophy.
This victory follows City's four consecutive triumphs between 2018 and 2021, and marks their ninth League Cup trophy, with only Liverpool having won it more times.
Pep Guardiola has now won the prestigious trophy five times as City manager – a record in English football. He surpasses Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Jose Mourinho (who all won four) as the manager with the most successes in the competition.
In total, he has won 29 out of his 39 games in the tournament, scoring 83 goals and conceding just 26.
The Carabao Cup was Pep's first trophy as City manager, with a 3-0 victory over Arsenal in 2018. Now, he has added to this legacy and become the most successful manager since the competition's inception in 1960.
City were the better side after halftime and deserved their win against an Arsenal team that looked short of its usual sharpness, perhaps due to a demanding Champions League match in midweek.
City captain Bernardo Silva described the team's latest trophy success as a special moment for everyone involved.
"This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone at City," he said. "We love this competition, and to win it by beating Arsenal, who have been excellent this season, is truly special.
Man City will now enter an international break before returning to action against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final on April 4. Guardiola's side will then focus on the Premier League the following weekend, away at Chelsea.
City remain in contention for the Premier League title, with Guardiola's side currently nine points behind leaders Arsenal, having a game in hand.
