Mikel Arteta made a mistake not replacing Piero Hincapie at half-time in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, in line with Micah Richards.
A second-half brace from Nico O’Reilly sealed a 2-0 victory for City at Wembley on Sunday, dashing Arsenal’s hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple this season.
With Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly named among the many subs, Hincapie began at left-back, placing him up against Antoine Semenyo in City’s attack.
While it was a foul on Matheus Nunes that led to his first-half booking, Semenyo tormented the Ecuador international within the opening period, repeatedly beating him down the suitable flank to create City’s best openings.
It continued within the second-half with Semenyo providing the cross that led to O’Rielly’s opening goal after Kepa Arrizabalaga spilled his cross.
The previous Bournemouth star noted post-match Hincapie’s booking had the Arsenal star ‘backing off’ and ‘gave me the chance to drive at him’.
Arteta seemed to be considering replacing his summer signing early on with Calafiori spotted warming up midway through the first-half. The change didn’t come until after 65 minutes nevertheless with the damage already done.
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Former City star Richards identified Hincapie’s reluctance to get tight on his man consequently of that first-half booking as an actual problem, believing he must have been replaced on the break.
‘It’s worthwhile to get tighter, and he could have gotten tighter if he wasn’t on that yellow card,’ Richards said.
‘That’s the difference and that’s the reason I believe Arteta must have made the change at half time because when you find yourself defending on a yellow card, you defend in a different way especially when you find yourself up against someone like Semenyo on that right hand side.’
Arsenal 0-2 Man City – Metro on the Match
Manchester City have secured the primary silverware of the season after Arsenal did not deliver at Wembley.
The quadruple dream is over and the Gunners must now pick up the pieces after a sobering setback.
For City, it has breathed life into their campaign after a dismal Champions League exit this week.
Kepa gamble backfires spectacularly
Mikel Arteta decided to maintain faith in Kepa Arrizabalaga after starting the Spaniard in each round of the competition leading as much as the ultimate at Wembley today.
Pep Guardiola did likewise with James Trafford, but it surely was Arsenal who paid the worth for dropping one in all their best players. From the moment the second-half kicked off, Kepa dallied on the ball, inviting the pressure that will inevitably swarm everywhere in the Gunners and trigger their downfall.
Raya has been spectacular this season, the perfect goalkeeper within the Premier League by some margin and in sublime form. Had he began, Sunday could have been a really different story.
Old Arsenal fears reignited
We’ve seen Arsenal collapse up to now. Past failures have so often been used as a follow beat them with but things have felt different this season.
Victory today would have gone a way in erasing the lingering fears over one other derailment . But defeat at Wembley could function a catalyst for something much bleaker.
Arsenal are still fighting on three fronts, accountable for the Premier League title race and well-placed to proceed marching on in Europe. But the consequences of today could possibly be season-altering. The woeful second-half showing was as bad as anything served up by them this term on the stage where they needed to be their best.
O’Reilly steps up
City needed a hero at Wembley they usually found a home-grown one. With Phil Foden only coming on as an injury time substitute, left-back O’Reilly stepped up as City’s savour with two headers to avoid wasting their season.
City were implausible within the second period to a person and fed off Arsenal’s apprehension but it surely was the 21-year-old set the usual once they needed inspiration.
Tony Mogan, live sports editor
City signed Semenyo for an initial £62million within the January transfer window with the Ghana international an quick hit in Manchester with seven goals to his name.
After clinching his first trophy with the club, he told Sky Sports: ‘It looks like a fairy tale to be honest.
‘But I’ve got lots more to indicate. I would like to play out wide, I would like to play as a No9, I would like to indicate how versatile I’m and the assistance the team as much as I can.
‘I’m having fun with my football and it could only recuperate.
‘For me, it’s so personal, I’ve never won a trophy before. Give God all of the glory.’
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