Arsenal’s unfortunate pattern has started to take shape again, and this time it came with silverware on the line. Mikel Arteta’s side lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice in four second-half minutes to decide the game.

For a team leading the Premier League, in the Champions League quarter-finals against Sporting CP, and still in the FA Cup, this was meant to be a statement result. Instead, their hopes of a quadruple are over, and questions around handling big games have returned.

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The first half was controlled but flat. Arsenal had more possession but did little with it. City stayed compact and waited for errors.

The game turned just after the hour mark, and it turned quickly.

KEPA’S HORROR NIGHT AT WEMBLEY

Arteta stuck with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had played every round in the competition. The decision did not work.

Kepa had already looked unsure early in the second half when he rushed out and fouled Jeremy Doku, earning a yellow card.

In the 60th minute, he made a bigger mistake. A routine cross slipped through his hands and fell to Nico O’Reilly, who headed City into the lead.

Four minutes later, it was 2-0. Matheus Nunes delivered a cross and O’Reilly scored again with a clean header.

Arsenal pushed forward but lacked quality in the final third. They hit the bar late on but did not do enough to trouble City.

Kepa’s errors changed the game, and Arsenal never recovered.

NICO O’REILLY EXTENDS DREAM WEEK

Nico O’Reilly made the difference.

The 21-year-old scored both goals in quick succession to settle the final. His first came from reacting to Kepa’s mistake. The second was a well-timed header from Nunes’ cross.

It capped a strong week for the youngster after his England call-up and birthday.

For Guardiola, this is his fifth League Cup title, the most by any manager in the competition.

City get the first trophy of the season.

Arsenal remain in the Premier League title race, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. But this result ends their chances of winning everything and brings back focus on how they perform in decisive games.

– Ends

LUCKNOW: Rishabh Pant always sports a smile, be it a moment of joy or challenge. Sunday was no different as the Lucknow Super Giant skipper was on the dais for a commercial event ahead of the Indian Premier League season.

He shook his legs to the loud music as he sat with pacers Mayank Yadav and Arjun Tendulkar. Although he didn’t address the media, the message surrounding the keeper-batter is clear. A strong IPL is vital for Pant, who didn’t figure in the T20 World Cup with injuries not helping his cause either.

Tendulkar told the media: “There’s a process, there’s lot of hard work and planning needed to win. If we look at the end output, which is winning the championship, that’s very, very far away. So, we focus on each game at a time, each day at a time. That’s the talk going on in the team.”

LSG, who ended seventh in the last two seasons after reaching the playoffs in their first two IPL editions, begin their campaign against Delhi Capitals at home on April 1.

It will be a fresh start for Pant, who had a disappointing 2025 IPL before signing off with a stunning, unbeaten century in the final league outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Stadium. Pant blazed 118* off 61 balls, his first IPL ton since 2018. He will hope IPL 2026 proves transformative. Pant could move up to No.3 to be able to control the innings.

Bought for a record ₹27 crore ahead of the 2025 IPL, Pant tallied 269 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.45. Scrutiny mounted, and though the century reaffirmed his X-factor, Pant will have to deliver consistently this season.

From the start of the training this season and even at Chennai where LSG held their first camp, Pant was excited about a fresh start for the team and himself.

Pant’s cheerful disposition helps lighten up the team environment, even in stressful situations. “I think everyone is fun-loving these days because the environment is already so stressful… If you carry too much stress and don’t enjoy yourself, sometimes you won’t be able to give your best,” he told Jiostar.

“You don’t want to treat it as work,” he said. “Yes, there is a lot at stake, a lot to lose, and the stakes will keep getting higher, but you shouldn’t stop enjoying the game and having fun.”

“I am in a good space, physically and mentally. I like to work on myself every day, and I enjoy that, because you have to spend time with yourself to keep improving. As long as you are playing cricket, that matters.”

“All the seniors I speak to tell me that in cricket, you can’t take it lightly even for a day. Today could be your day, but tomorrow it might not be, and that could change again the day after. So, just keep working hard. Decision-making and handling situations are important, but consistently working on yourself to improve, even when things are going your way, is important. I believe there are only two scenarios in life—either you’re doing good or you’re doing okay, there is nothing called bad.”