How Manchester City dominated the 2018 Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: On February 25, 2018, Manchester City faced Arsenal in the EFL Cup final, a match rebranded as the Carabao Cup. While Arsenal navigated a path entirely within London, City overcame tense penalty shoot-outs and a high-scoring semi-final to secure a decisive 3–0 victory, marking a milestone for Pep Guardiola.

The 2018 EFL Cup final represented a clash between two Premier League giants, Manchester City and Arsenal. For City, the match was their sixth appearance in the competition's final and the first under manager Pep Guardiola. Arsenal, meanwhile, entered their eighth final, marking the third such appearance during Arsène Wenger's tenure. The match was held at Wembley Stadium, serving as the culmination of a knockout tournament that includes clubs from the Premier League and the English Football League.

The paths to the final were starkly different. Arsenal benefited from a unique draw, playing four of their five matches at home and their single away semi-final leg in London, meaning they never left the city to reach the final. They struggled offensively, scoring only six goals throughout the tournament—the lowest tally for any finalist. Conversely, Manchester City faced a rigorous journey. They required penalty shoot-outs to bypass Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City in the fourth round and quarter-finals, respectively. Their semi-final against Bristol City was a high-scoring affair, ending in a 5–3 aggregate victory after two legs.

In the final itself, City asserted control early. Sergio Agüero opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a lob over David Ospina. Vincent Kompany doubled the lead in the 58th minute, redirecting a shot from İlkay Gündoğan, before David Silva sealed the 3–0 win in the 65th minute. Although the victory would have granted City a spot in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, their first-place finish in the 2017–18 Premier League ensured they qualified directly for the UEFA Champions League instead.

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