Carabao Cup Final: Match Report
By Roberto, Sports Editor
On Sunday 25th February, high-flying Manchester City played in the first domestic cup final in England this campaign against Arsenal who have suffered several disappointments already this season, being knocked out of the F.A. Cup by Nottingham Forest and being placed a lonely 6th in the Barclays Premier League. Despite being one of the best remaining teams in the UEFA Europa League, this was seen as many as Arsenal’s only chance to win silverware this season.
Arsenal had won two of their last five games prior to this match, losing the remaining three including their recent loss in the North-London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal have scored the fifth most goals in the Premier League this season with 51 goals in 27 games (1.9 goals per game) but have only conceded 36 goals (1.3 goals conceded per game). Arsenal have a large squad and have back-up and reassurance in each position (eg. Mertesacker and Holding are talented reserves to bring in for Mustafi or Koscielny).
Manchester City had won three of their last five games before this cup final, drawing one and losing the other including their recent F.A. Cup upset loss against Wigan. Being the superior team to Arsenal this season, City have scored the most goals in the Premier League this season with 79 goals in 27 games (2.9 goals per game) and have only conceded 20 goals (0.7 goals conceded per game). Much similar to Arsenal, City have great depth in their squad, debatably better than Arsenal’s with world-class players like Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva struggling to make the starting XI.
Arsenal Starting XI:
GK – D. Ospina – 13
LCB – L. Koscielny – 6
CB – S. Mustafi – 20
RCB – C. Chambers – 21
LWB – N. Monreal – 18
RWB – H. Bellerin – 24
LCM – G. Xhaka – 29
RCM – A. Ramsey – 8
LF – J. Wilshere – 10
RF – M. Özil – 11
ST – P.E. Aubameyang – 14
Manchester City Starting XI:
GK – C. Bravo – 1
LB – Danilo – 3
LCB – N. Otamendi – 30
RCB – V. Kompany – 4
RB – K. Walker – 2
CDM – Fernandinho – 25
LCM – I. Gündoğan – 8
RCM – K. De Bruyne – 17
LW – L. Sane – 19
ST – S. Aguero – 10
RW – D. Silva – 21
The two confident teams boldly stepped out onto the pitch in front of the renowned trophy and a packed Wembley Stadium was roaring in support of their teams. The referee, Craig Pawson, blows the whistle to signal the start of the match as Arsenal kick off. There was a total attendance of 85,671 at Wembley…
2’ A gently lobbed cross from Leroy Sane (Manchester City) is unsuccessful as the Arsenal defence quickly clear their lines but Manchester City win a corner. The resulting corner comes to nothing as David Silva (Manchester City) sends the ball out of play.
7’ Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) sends a powerful cross into the 18-yard box but David Ospina (Arsenal) comes off his line to retrieve the ball.
8’ Immediately after, Arsenal launch an unexpected counter-attack when Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) skips through the City defensive line but the ball is blocked. It then falls into the path of Mesut Özil (Arsenal) who squares it across the goal where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) hit his shot low towards the middle of the goal when Bravo makes a stunning, last-ditch save to keep the score nil-nil.
13’ Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) loses the ball in the penalty area and the Arsenal supporters and players appeal for a penalty, despite there being minimal contact between players.
13’ The Manchester City defenders react at the last minute to brilliantly block a pass from Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
15’ In the first 15 minutes of the match, Manchester City dominated possession (64% – 36%) and had more attacking creativity than Arsenal.
18’ GOAL – Claudio Bravo (Manchester City) boots the ball the whole way down the pitch and Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) gets behind the Arsenal defence with a burst of pace and lobs the ball over David Ospina (Arsenal) from the edge of the box. Manchester City – 1 – 0 – Arsenal
22’ Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) trips up Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) so Craig Pawson signals a direct free-kick for Arsenal, roughly 25 yards out. Aaron Ramsey’s (Arsenal) free-kick goes low and under the wall but is a simple save.
26’ Arsene Wenger is forced to make an unplanned substitute when Nacho Monreal had to come off due to a knock and Kolasinac has come onto the pitch as his replacement.
31’ Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) received the ball on the edge of the box but blazes his shot well over the bar.
32’ Craig Pawson shows Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) a yellow card for a blatant foul.
44’ Leroy Sane (Manchester City) releases a teasing cross into the area but David Ospina (Arsenal) intercepts the ball well.
HALF-TIME; Manchester City – 1 – 0 – Arsenal
After the first half of this match, Manchester City were demolishing Arsenal and dominating the whole pitch. Their form in the Premier League showed as Manchester City used their possessive passing tactic used mainly by manager, Pep Guardiola.
First-Half Statistics:
Possession: Manchester City – 58% – 42% – Arsenal
Shots: Manchester City – 7 – 3 – Arsenal
Shots on target: Manchester City – 1 – 2 – Arsenal
Saves: Manchester City – 2 – 0 – Arsenal
Fouls: Manchester City – 6 – 7 – Arsenal
START OF SECOND-HALF; Manchester City – 1 – 0 – Arsenal
47’ Calum Chambers (Arsenal) must be careful for the rest of the match after receiving a yellow card from Craig Pawson for an unneeded foul.
51’ Fernandinho has been forced to be substituted for Bernardo Silva due to an unfortunate knee injury possibly caused by lack of warm up for the second-half.
57’ Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal) commits an illegal challenge which results in Craig Pawson awarding City a free-kick from a promising distance. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) stepped up to take the free-kick but failed in his aPempt to curl the ball over the wall.
58’ GOAL – Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) passes the corner short instead of crossing the ball into the box. The ball is worked to Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) who takes the shot from a wide angle, which deflects of Vincent Kompany’s (Manchester City) foot to send the keeper the wrong way.
Manchester City – 2 – 0 – Arsenal
65’ GOAL – Danilo (Manchester City) provides David Silva (Manchester City) with a magnificent through ball to enable Silva to finish it calmly into the far corner. Manchester City – 3 – 0 – Arsenal
69’ Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) attempts to dribble past the Arsenal defence but the ball is cleared.
73’ Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) is taken off for Alex Iwobi in a tactical change by Arsene Wenger.
75’ Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) shoots a thunderbolt shot towards the far top corner but it just goes over the crossbar.
77’ Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) is brought onto the pitch as a substitute for Leroy Sane by Pep Guardiola for a burst of pace and energy in the final 15 minutes of the game.
84’ Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) and Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) get into a small fight but is urgently and quickly broken up by the referee, Craig Pawson.
87’ Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) sends the ball into the 18-yard box from the side of the pitch.