Arsenal vs Man City: What Happened When They Last Met in the 2018 Carabao Cup Final?

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Arsenal take on Manchester City under the Wembley arch for the 2026 Carabao Cup Final with the footballing world is buzzing with anticipation. This upcoming clash pits Mikel Arteta's quadruple-chasing Gunners against Pep Guardiola's wounded City side.

However, to truly appreciate the gravity of this 2026 showdown, we must rewind the clock to February 25, 2018, the last time these two giants met in this very final.

Arsenal vs Man City: What happened in Last Carabao Cup Final?

The 2018 Carabao Cup Final represented a massive turning point for both clubs. For Arsenal, managed by the legendary Arsene Wenger in what would be his final season, it was a desperate bid to salvage a difficult domestic campaign. For Manchester City, it was the dawn of an empire. Pep Guardiola was in his second season in charge and was hunting for his very first piece of silverware in English football.
From the first whistle, the gulf in class and tactical execution was evident. Arsenal started nervously, and Manchester City capitalized brutally.

In the 18th minute, City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo launched a massive goal kick up the pitch. Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing Sergio Aguero to sneak behind him. The Argentine striker calmly lobbed the ball over an advancing David Ospina to draw first blood.

Arsenal attempted to rally in the second half, but City's dominance proved overwhelming. In the 58th minute, captain Vincent Kompany diverted an Ilkay Gündogan shot past Ospina to double the lead. The final nail in the coffin came just seven minutes later. In the 65th minute, David Silva showcased brilliant footwork inside the penalty area, lashing a powerful, low left-footed strike into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

Stats and Aftermath

The statistics painted a picture of total City control. Manchester City enjoyed the lion's share of possession and registered 3 goals from just 3 shots on target, highlighting their ruthless efficiency. Arsenal, despite fielding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Özil, failed to register a single meaningful response.

The 3-0 victory secured Pep Guardiola's first trophy as Manchester City manager, opening the floodgates for the unprecedented success that followed over the next decade.

As the two sides prepare to meet again in 2026, Arsenal will be desperate to banish the ghosts of 2018, while City will hope history repeats itself at the home of English football.