ARSENAL 0, MAN CITY 3
Far bigger prizes may lay ahead, but Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal was hugely significant for Pep Guardiola.
It was the City manager’s first piece of silverware in English football as his side comprehensively beat the Gunners at the end of a crazy week.
The triumph at Wembley came six days after City were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup at League One club Wigan Athletic.
And while the Premier League and Champions League remain the more coveted prizes for City, this was a special moment for Guardiola.
It was also sweet revenge for his defeat by Arsenal at Wembley last season in the semi finals of the FA Cup.
There was no doubt this time as goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva gave City an emphatic victory, their fifth in the League Cup.
But it was a sorry day for Arsenal with the majority of their disgruntled fans long gone by the final whistle as this was the sixth time they have lost in eight League Cup finals.
Guardiola said: “I am happy for everyone connected with Manchester City, and I was only one of them.
“I cannot forget the way the club looked after me last year when things did not go well which is why I am so happy.”
Guardiola was not happy with the first-half display saying that was probably due to the pressure to win a title.
But he was delighted with the way his side played in the second period.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described the wounds as “self inflicted”.
He said: “Congratulations to City for winning the cup. They will go home happy while we go home disappointed.
“We feel everything went against us and it was self-inflicted punishment.
“We missed an unbelievable chance when it was 0-0 before we gave them a goal.
“The second goal was offside and after it was viewed by VAR (video assistant referee) it was a mystery why it was given. And after that, City controlled the game.”
City opted for Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi as their central defensive pairing as John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were on the bench.
Claudio Bravo continued in goal for cup games as he was selected ahead of Ederson Moraes.
Raheem Sterling was ruled out through injury, but Gabriel Jesus returned on the bench after a lengthy lay off.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger went for David Ospina in goal, preferring him to Petr Cech, though the remainder of the team was as expected, though Alexandre Lacazette was missing through injury.
The Gunners ought to have taken an eighth-minute lead when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a sitter.
Jack Wilshere made a break and Mezut Ozil squared a pass to Aubameyang who looked as though he could not miss, but his miss-hit shot was kept out by the legs of Bravo.
Nacho Monreal also claimed a penalty, but replays suggested a dive and no contact from Kompany.
Arsenal made the brighter start, but City took the lead in the 18th minute, through a route one goal and not from one of their fine, flowing attacking moves.
Bravo launched a long goal kick and Aguero raced clear to lob Ospina, though the Gunners claimed Skkodran Mustafi was nudged off the ball and the Argentine’s 30th goal of the season should not have stood.
Arsenal were forced to make a change mid-half when the injured Nacho Monreal was substituted by Sead Kolasinac.
The remainder of the opening half became scrappy and disjointed with neither side impressing.
City had a great chance to double their lead soon after the restart, but Kompany’s shot was deflected narrowly wide.
But they lost Fernandinho to injury in the 52nd minute as he was replaced by Bernardo Silva.
City went 2-0 ahead just short of the hour through Kompany to leave Arsenal with a mountain to climb.
Kevin De Bruyne cut a corner back to the edge of the box where Bernardo Silva fired towards goal with Kompany sticking out a leg to divert the ball in the opposite corner to where Ospina was diving. What a way to score your first goal of the season.
Arsenal were waiting to bring on Danny Welbeck for Callum Chambers when they conceded a third goal.
Danilo made a terrific burst forward and cut the ball back to David Silva who fired a shot across the face of goal into the far corner for his sixth of the seasoon.
The blue and white flags, so striking pre-match, reappeared created a colourful backdrop to the final as City supporters knew the cup belonged to them.
City brought on Jesus with 13 minutes left to huge cheers from the visiting fans.
By contrast half the Arsenal supporters had trudged dejectedly out of Wembley with 10 minutes left after their side had been comprehensively beaten.
City made their last change with two minutes left as Aguero was replaced by teenager Phil Foden who followed his FIFA U17 World Cup win with an appearance in the final of the Carabao Cup.