Man City may not be as imperious nor as unstoppable as they once were, but they firmly remain English football's dominant force. On Sunday, a quick-fire pair of Nico O'Reilly's back-post headers, that were near-identical in their creation and execution, saw Pep Guardiola's team beat Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley in the EFL Cup Final.
This is Guardiola's fifth Carabao Cup triumph and the club's ninth overall, with the Catalan coach taking his tally to 19 major honours since arriving a decade ago. They may be nine points adrift Premier League leaders Arsenal and out of the Champions League, but the Citizens are seemingly irresistible under the Wembley arch.
That's because, since the new Wembley first opened its doors in 2007, the Sky Blues now boast the most victories at the stadium when used as a neutral venue.
Clubs to have won a major cup game at Wembley (2007-present)
Club | Wembley wins | Cups won |
|---|---|---|
Man City | 15 | 10 |
Chelsea | 14 | 6 |
Man United | 10 | 6 |
Arsenal | 8 | 4 |
Liverpool | 6 | 4 |
Portsmouth | 3 | 1 |
Crystal Palace | 3 | 1 |
Wigan Athletic | 2 | 1 |
Leicester City | 2 | 1 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | 1 |
Newcastle United | 1 | 1 |
Birmingham City | 1 | 1 |
Swansea City | 1 | 1 |
Watford | 1 | Zero |
Aston Villa | 1 | Zero |
Hull City | 1 | Zero |
Stoke City | 1 | Zero |
Everton | 1 | Zero |
Cardiff City | 1 | Zero |
Note: Only EFL Cup Finals plus FA Cup semi-finals and finals are included.
Man City are very much the cup kings, having collected three FA Cups and now seven EFL Cups since the first silverware of the Abu Dhabi-era was secured in 2011. This weekend's triumph also ends the Sky Blues' mini-trophy draught, having not picked up any silverware last season, unless you count the Community Shield, which Guardiola very much does.
So, will they add to their always rapidly growing collection in May?
Man City's remaining fixtures
- Saturday 4 April. Liverpool (H). FA Cup quarter-final. Kick off 12:45.
- Sunday 12 April. Chelsea (A). Premier League. Kick off 4:30.
- Sunday 19 April. Arsenal (H). Premier League. Kick off 4:30.
- Sunday 26 April. Burnley (A). Premier League. Kick off 2pm.
- 2/3 May. Everton (A). Premier League. Kick off TBC.
- 9/10 May. Brentford (H). Premier League. Kick off TBC.
- 17/18 May. Bournemouth (A). Premier League. Kick off TBC.
- Sunday 24 May. Aston Villa (H). Premier League. Kick off 4pm.
- Date TBC. Crystal Palace (H). Premier League.
Next up after the international break, Guardiola's team will host Liverpool in an FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad. Given the form Arne Slot's team are enduring right now, the Sky Blues have to be clear favourites to win that one.
Having been hammered in the Champions League by Real Madrid, aside from a potential Wembley return in the FA Cup, it is full steam ahead in the Premier League with eight fixtures to go. Man City are currently nine points below Arsenal, but how much of a psychological blow to the Gunners' was Sunday's result?
The Citizens do also have a game in hand, which is Crystal Palace at home, so win that and beat Mikel Arteta's team at the Etihad next month, the gap is down to three and the race is well and truly on.