Man City League Cup win secured after Kepa error gifts Arsenal defeat as O’Reilly scores decisive brace at Wembley

Manchester City on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium defeated Arsenal FC 2-0 to secure the Man City League Cup win, capitalising on a costly error by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

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Midfielder Nico O’Reilly scored twice in the second half to seal the victory and hand City their ninth League Cup title under manager Pep Guardiola.

The breakthrough came on the hour mark when Kepa failed to deal with a cross from Rayan Cherki, allowing the ball to slip through his hands for O’Reilly to head home from close range.

City struck again just four minutes later, with O’Reilly rising to meet a precise delivery from Matheus Nunes to double the advantage and effectively end the contest.

The decisive moment highlighted a difficult outing for Kepa, whose selection by Mikel Arteta ahead of first-choice goalkeeper David Raya proved costly.

Arsenal had started brightly, with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka both denied by a sensational triple save from City goalkeeper James Trafford.

However, the north London side struggled to maintain attacking momentum and failed to convert early pressure into goals.

City emerged stronger after the break, dominating possession and creating sustained pressure that eventually forced the breakthrough.

The defeat ended Arsenal’s hopes of securing their first trophy since 2020 and halted their pursuit of a potential quadruple this season.

For Guardiola, the triumph marked a significant milestone, delivering his fifth League Cup success and his 15th major trophy with the club.

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The victory also offers momentum for City as they seek to close the gap on Arsenal in the Premier League title race following their recent exit from European competition.