Arteta: 'We'll use this pain as fuel'
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 23.03.26. | 11:45
The Arsenal manager will try to use this Carabao Cup defeat as a motivation for the title push
Manchester City won their first trophy of the 2025/26 season by defeating Arsenal 2–0 in the EFL Cup Final. The hero of the victory at Wembley was Nico O'Reilly, who scored two headed goals within four minutes in the second half to break the Gunners’ resistance. With this win, Pep Guardiola became the first manager in history to win the competition five times, surpassing legends such as Brian Clough, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.
Although City had more possession in the first half (61%), Guardiola’s team failed to register a single shot on target. However, the picture completely changed after the break.
“We saw our true level against the best team. In the second half, I couldn’t believe we could dominate Arsenal like that, but we managed it,” Guardiola said after the match.
410 - Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City was their first by a margin of 2+ goals in 410 days (0-2 v Newcastle in the League Cup, Feb. 2025).
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 22, 2026
It also marked their largest xG deficit in a cup tie this season (0.63 for, 1.51 against).
Blow. pic.twitter.com/187DSQEWV0
Despite winning the trophy, City still trail Arsenal by nine points in the Premier League. Guardiola believes this result will not directly affect the title race
“These are different competitions. The Premier League is in their hands—they punished us earlier in the season. We’ll keep winning and see what happens if they drop points”. Mikel Arteta believes the defeat will motivate his team, which is still competing on three fronts—the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
“The fact we didn’t win the trophy is very painful. We’ll use that pain as fuel for the next two months. We move forward, recover, and try again,” said Arteta.
The Arsenal manager also commented on his decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of David Raya.
“I understand the criticism, but I have to do what I believe is right and fair. Kepa played throughout the competition, and it would’ve been unfair to him and the team to do otherwise. Mistakes are part of football” Arteta explained. After the international break, both teams face crucial challenges in April. Arsenal will meet Southampton in the FA Cup and Sporting CP in the Champions League, while Manchester City will take on Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.