Manchester City claimed the first piece of silverware for the 2025/26 season with their 2-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley in yesterday’s Carabao Cup final. A second half brace from Nico O’Reilly was enough to cap off a dominant second half performance from Pep Guardiola’s side. Nico O’Reilly’s brace, the performances of Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, Abdukodir Khusanov and James Trafford all stood out yesterday. On top of that, Manchester City’s experienced players led the way at Wembley as they each played a huge role in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup triumph.
Every single senior player stood up for Manchester City yesterday.
One ingredient that this Manchester City squad has over Arsenal is experience in winning finals and claiming silverware. That may change in the coming months, but for right now, that statement rings true. After Mikel Arteta’s side made a strong start to yesterday’s Carabao Cup final, Pep Guardiola’s side grew into the match. A key part of this was the leadership, work rate, and sacrifice of Manchester City’s senior players. Every single one of them stood up when it mattered most at Wembley.
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Nathan Ake was superb at the back. He was a calming influence on Abdukodir Khusanov and as the game wore on the Dutch international became a wall at the back. He was rarely beaten and as Arsenal looked to play long balls over the top of City’s defence, Ake wasn’t rattled. It was a vintage performance from Ake at Wembley.
You can also through Matheus Nunes into the senior player category. The Portuguese international was strong defensively and as the match wore on he became a major attacking weapon for City. His assist for Nico O’Reilly’s second goal was utterly brilliant and his composure to delay his cross until the ideal moment stood out in that crucial moment. Matheus Nunes has come on in leaps and bounds this season and that showed at Wembley.
Bernardo Silva and Rodri were superb in midfield against Arsenal.
Bernardo Silva and Rodri were both superb in midfield. As City were up against it to begin the game, the pair never gave up the fight. The further the match wore on, both players were key in Manchester City establishing their dominance before Nico O’Reilly broke the game open. Both players gave their all to the cause for Pep Guardiola’s side yesterday, and City wouldn’t have won without their efforts.
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Erling Haaland put in a real shift up against William Saliba and Gabriel. Haaland was starved of chances yesterday, but his work rate and commitment could not be questioned. His sheer presence drew the Arsenal defence, and that did help City prosper at Wembley yesterday.
Manchester City’s captain was thrilled with his team’s win and what it meant for City’s younger players.
Speaking after Manchester City’s Carabao Cup triumph over Arsenal, Bernardo Silva said he was thrilled to win another trophy for the club. The Manchester City captain added that yesterday’s win at Wembley was a special moment for Manchester City’s younger players. He explained: “Finals are always a special game where you have to deal with your emotions well. The game is normally decided on small details. Today the performance was really good from the team. To be able to have that feeling that yes, we can do it, it’s huge for the future of this club.”
“I’m really proud, really happy for us and for them [younsters]. Hopefully we can still fight for the next two trophies in the last months of the season.”
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Finals are always a special game where you have to deal with your emotions well,” he began. “The game is normally decided on small details.”
“Today the performance was really good from the team. To be able to have that feeling that yes, we can do it, it’s huge for the future of this Club.
“I’m really proud, really happy for us and for them [younsters]. Hopefully we can still fight for the next two trophies in the last months of the season.”
“For sure, Wembley is always special. Giving a trophy back to the club and to the fans is always very special. So we’re really happy.”
Final thoughts.
The senior players in the Manchester City lineup all played key roles in their team’s Carabao Cup success yesterday. They led the way for their younger teammates to follow. Each of them also set an example for their younger teammates to follow in the future. Pep Guardiola’s new-look side claimed their first piece of silverware together at Wembley yesterday. At the core of Manchester City’s win over Arsenal were the performances of their senior players who led from the front.
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