In the much anticipated battle of the 2026 League Cup final, Manchester City emerged victorious after stunning favourites Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley through a stunning brace by right-back Nico O'Riley. Pep Guardiola showed his prowess in a League Cup final again as his apprentice Mikel Arteta, on the opposite dugout, was left empty handed in the first chance of winning a silverware this season. Despite the Gunners starting strongly and forcing early saves from City's cup goalkeeper James Trafford, the side kept their nerve and grew into the game which ultimately earned them the reward. Arsenal's left flurry including hitting the frame of the goal twice yielded nothing as the League Cup went into City's locker room.
The defeat also means the Gunners have lost the chance of winning a quadruple this season and just like the 2018 League Cup loss to the Citizens, failed to score in the showpiece. Still, Arteta's side have the chance of completing a treble after staying alive in the Champions League and FA Cup while remaining nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table. However, this victory is a huge motivation from Guardiola's men who silenced their doubters of their form leading up to the final and injuries to senior center-backs that many thought would leave them exposed. This result could reignite their title challenge in the league having a game in hand with the FA Cup also in store to complete a treble of themselves. For now, they will enjoy winning this competition to the fullest.
Here are the records set in the 2026 League Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City:
Cup Kings
Manchester City have now won the League Cup title for the ninth time in their history, making them the second most successful side in the competition behind Liverpool who has 10. This is their first final win in this competition since 2021, having won in every showpiece appearance since 1974. However, it might be the only final win when they weren't tipped to be the favourites. This also ended their losing streak in major finals since lifting the Champions League in 2023.
Dominance
City has also defeated Arsenal in their last five meetings in the League Cup and twice in the final. They have been overly dominant in scoring terms too, finding the net 13 times. At the same time, they have restricted the Gunners from having much joy at the other end, conceding just once in a brilliant show of solidity. They kept a clean sheet in this showpiece as well.
Master's stroke
With this triumph, Pep Guardiola have now won all of his five League Cup finals he managed, having already securing the title four consecutive times from 2018 to 2021. In doing so, he became the first manager to win this many titles in the competition, overtaking Sir Alex Ferguson's four titles with Manchester United, Brian Clough with Nottingham Forest and Jose Mourinho with Chelsea and United combined.
Birthday boy
However, all this could not have been possible if the man of the moment, O'Riley did not celebrate his birthday in style by entering the scoresheet twice with two identical headers in the second -half. First he capitalised on Arsenal Cup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's fumble from Rayan Cherki's cross to head into empty net and becoming the second youngest Man City player to score in the League Cup final after Peter Barnes and the youngest in the showpiece history since Cardiff City's Joe Mason.
He followed up with a second just minutes later, nodding in Matheus Nunes teasing cross to make the day for City. With his brace on his special day, he became the first player to score twice in the EFL Cup final since a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic did for city rivals Manchester United in 2018. He is also the third youngest player to score a brace in the tournament's final and first since Wayne Rooney in 2006 at 21 years of age.
Drawing blank again
While Erling Haaland will enjoy another silverware with Manchester City, he faced another miserable time in front of a goal in a major tournament final. After failing to get into the scoresheet, the Norwegian has now drawn blank in each of his eight finals with Man City. He is yet to score in six Wembley appearances for the club and failed to end the drought even though he has scored in the three games against Arsenal before this meeting.
Miserable Cup run
Suffering another heartbreaking defeat, the Gunners have now lost seven League Cup finals since their last triumph in this competition 33 years ago. As said, they also lost to City in 2018 in Arsene Wenger's last showpiece appearance for the side with a margin of 3-0 while their current boss was assistant coach of the winning side back then. They are the side now to have suffered the most final losses in the competition.
Unbeaten streak over
Arsenal were unbeaten in their last six games against Manchester City in all competitions before this final, going back to the start of the 2023/24 season. This is also the first time they failed to score in this fixture since the goalless draw in the Premier League clash at Etihad Stadium in 2024. This defeat also meant that Mikel Arteta had lost at Wembley for the first time with Arsenal as a manager or as a player, having won five of his eight games prior at the venue.
