Guardiola eclipses Fergie, Man City overtake Chelsea, Arsenal the biggest losers as EFL Cup records fall

Pep Guardiola made history at Wembley as Manchester City cruised past Arsenal to lift the EFL Cup, rewriting the competition’s record books in the process.

It was a night of dominance for City and despair for the Gunners, as multiple milestones fell in one of the most one-sided finals in recent years.

Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Wembley was more than just another trophy—it was a landmark moment.

Guardiola secured his fifth League Cup title, overtaking legendary managers like Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough, and José Mourinho to become the most successful manager in the competition’s history.

City also set a new benchmark at the new Wembley Stadium, recording their 15th neutral venue win since its reopening in 2007—surpassing Chelsea’s previous record of 14.

On the pitch, it was Nico O'Reilly who stole the show. The youngster netted twice in the second half, first capitalising on a loose ball from Rayan Cherki’s cross before powering home a header just minutes later from Matheus Nunes’ delivery to seal the win.

For Arsenal, the defeat marked yet another painful chapter in their recent cup history. The Gunners have now lost four consecutive League Cup finals, the longest such streak in the competition’s history, extending their wait for silverware since 2020.

Despite an encouraging start that saw Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka denied by a stunning triple save from James Trafford, Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to maintain their intensity.

Statistically, the loss underlined City’s superiority, with Arsenal suffering their biggest expected goals (xG) deficit in a cup match this season (0.63 to 1.51). It also ended a 410-day run without losing by two or more goals.

Late efforts from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel struck the woodwork, but it summed up Arsenal’s night, close, but not enough. Meanwhile, City celebrated yet another trophy, reinforcing their dominance in English football while leaving Arsenal to reflect on another missed opportunity.