Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley to claim their ninth League Cup title and the first major silverware of the 2025-26 season. English full-back Nico O’Reilly, celebrating his 21st birthday, scored both goals in a dominant second-half display, cementing his place as the match hero.
Pep Guardiola extended his remarkable League Cup record, winning all five finals he has contested as City manager, becoming the first coach in history to achieve five League Cup triumphs. This final was also the first in English League Cup history between the top two league sides at the time of the match.
Both teams handed opportunities to backup goalkeepers. James Trafford (23 years, 163 days) started for City, becoming the youngest English goalkeeper in a League Cup final at Wembley since 1978. Trafford made a brilliant triple save early on to keep the scores level.
City’s first shot on target came only in the 60th minute, but O’Reilly made it count. Following a Gunners’ defensive error, he scored from close range to open the scoring, becoming the youngest League Cup final goalscorer for City since Peter Barnes in 1976. Four minutes later, O’Reilly doubled the lead with another header from a Matheus Nunes cross, making him the third youngest player to score twice in a League Cup final.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, had never lost at Wembley in a final as a player or manager, and this defeat will be a psychological blow ahead of upcoming league and cup fixtures. This was City’s first victory in seven attempts against Arsenal and will give them confidence as the Premier League title race continues.
