The first major domestic trophy of the season is ‘s. And after a dominant 2-0 win against Arsenal in the English League Cup final on Sunday, it may not be the last.
Manchester-born Nico O鈥橰eilly sealed victory with both goals in the second half at Wembley Stadium. The win could also have delivered a psychological blow in the race for the title as Pep Guardiola aims to chase down Arsenal鈥檚 nine-point lead at the top of the standings.
鈥�(It’s an) unbelievable feeling to win a final and to beat this team. We know how good they are,” O鈥橰eilly told Sky Sports. 鈥淲e need to build on it now, it鈥檒l give us momentum.”
This was serial trophy-winner Guardiola flexing his muscles. It was his 16th major trophy as City manager and a record fifth League Cup. He has won 34 career titles as a manager including his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
And, once again, he was stamping out Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s own ambitions, having twice beaten his former assistant to the league title in recent years.
鈥淚鈥檓 really pleased because I know the opponent we played. Mikel created a team that is almost unbeatable,” Guardiola said. “Every time you win a title it looks more difficult than in the past. It is really difficult for many reasons.鈥�
Arsenal remains favorite to be crowned league champion this season for the first time since 2004, given its big lead. But with second-place City having a game in hand and the teams still to play each other in Manchester at the Etihad Stadium, the picture could look very different in the coming weeks.
City鈥檚 win also ended Arsenal鈥檚 bid this season for an unprecedented of major trophies by an English team – including the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
“I’m very sad. It is a very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want that,” Arteta said. 鈥淲e will manage that energy in the right way and we have to go through that pain and disappointment. It’s normal and it’s part of football.鈥�
The 21-year-old O鈥橰eilly, who came through City鈥檚 academy, was the unlikely hero with both goals from left back.
He took advantage of Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s fumble to head City in front on the hour. And he headed in a second four minutes later to effectively kill off the match.
鈥淢y whole family came down today (to watch) … I know they鈥檒l be buzzing and I can鈥檛 wait to see them,鈥� O鈥橰eilly said.
Arteta said he had no regrets about selecting Kepa 鈥� who had played in previous rounds 鈥� rather than first-choice David Raya.
Premier League crisis deepens for Tottenham
Tottenham鈥檚 Premier League survival fight was plunged with a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, one of three league games played on Sunday.
The relegation six-pointer left Spurs one place and one point above the drop zone and raised further questions about the future of coach Igor Tudor.
鈥淭he season is tough, especially in this moment. Another very bad (result) for us,鈥� said Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. 鈥淭he situation is tough, but most important thing is play (every game) like a final now.鈥�
Fellow relegation-fighting Forest climbed above Spurs to 16th in the standings. The only positive on another miserable day for Tottenham was defeat for West Ham at Aston Villa to keep it in the bottom three.
Tottenham – one of English soccer鈥檚 most iconic teams and a founding member of the Premier League – is still without a win in the top flight in 2026. Its last win was Dec. 28 and it has lost six of its last seven games.
Igor Jesus鈥� header just before halftime gave Forest the lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Morgan Gibbs-White added a second just after the hour mark.
Taiwo Awoniyi completed Forest鈥檚 first league win under coach Vitor Pereira in the 87th to leave home fans fearing the end of its ever-present stay in England鈥檚 top division since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.
Tudor was to try to turn Spurs鈥� season around, but has lost five of his seven games in charge in all competitions and seen his team eliminated from the Champions League.
Tottenham remains one point above 18th-place West Ham, which lost 2-0 to Villa.
Villa boosted its chances of Champions League qualification and took advantage of all of its immediate rivals dropping points.
Villa is fourth, one point behind Manchester United and five points above fifth-place Liverpool.
Brian Brobbey struck in the 90th minute to give Sunderland bragging rights in the against Newcastle.
Brobbey鈥檚 close-range effort sealed a 2-1 comeback win at St. James鈥� Park and saw Sunderland complete a league double over its fiercest rival.
Earlier, the game had been halted due to a report of from the crowd towards Sunderland鈥檚 Lutsharel Geertruida.
Before kickoff, there had been tense scenes between fans outside the stadium. Northumberland police said one arrest was made.
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