Overview
- Twenty-one-year-old Nico O’Reilly scored in the 60th and 64th minutes after a goalless first half at Wembley.
- The opener followed a handling error by Kepa Arrizabalaga, who kept his place after featuring throughout Arsenal’s cup run.
- Manchester City raised the tempo after halftime, while Arsenal managed five second-half shots and just 37% possession, per post-match analysis.
- Mikel Arteta said the defeat should power a strong finish to a campaign that still features a nine-point Premier League lead and live pursuits in the FA Cup and Champions League.
- Media and pundits questioned Arsenal’s performance and selection choices, with Sky Sports and The Athletic critical and Jamie Redknapp labeling the Kepa call a major mistake.