A Nico O’Reilly double saw City lift the Carabao Cup in a sizzling second half after a dull, tense first 45 minutes.

Arsenal had started the final the better team and broke through the City backline with ease in the first 10 minutes, forcing keeper James Trafford to make a stunning triple save.

City came more into the game as the half progressed, but lacked a finishing touch.

Antoine Semenyo seemed the likeliest source on the right, while Jeremy Doku on the opposite wing was pretty impotent.

Despite all their possession, City didn’t force Arsenal keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into any saves.

But whatever City boss Pep Guardiola said at half-time seemed to do the trick as his side were a completely different proposition.

It was wave after wave of City attack, with Arsenal struggling to get hold of the ball.

A breakthrough seemed inevitable and it was a Kepa howler which saw City take the lead.

Kepa has had a nightmare at Wembley in this final over the years.

No one can forget when he refused to be substituted in Chelsea’s defeat to City, or him missing a penalty in the shoot-out loss to Liverpool.

He had already received a yellow card for following Jeremy Doku outside the area, when he misjudged the flight of the ball.

And there seemed little danger in the 60th minute when the immaculate Rayan Cherki crossed the ball from the right.

Kepa went to catch the ball but let it slip through his fingers and O’Reilly stooped to head the ball into the empty net.

Four minutes later, O’Reilly, who is the front runner for the Young Player of the Season, headed home Matheus Nunes’ cross to double the lead.

Even with 26 minutes remaining, Arsenal never really looked like they believed they would get back into it.

They had a couple of half chances, including a Riccardo Calafiori shot which hit the outside of the post and a Gabriel header which came back off the bar.

But it would have been an injustice if City hadn’t lifted the trophy.

Hero O’Reilly, who must surely have booked his spot in the England squad for the World Cup, said after the match: “"Unbelievable feeling. To win a final, to beat this team we know how good they are. We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today.

"Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend."

In recent weeks, City’s form in the second half of matches has dipped, but every player was superb after the break, with special mentions for Abdukodir Khusanov, who should be starting every game, Cherki, Semenyo and captain Bernardo Silva.

Arsenal need to put the defeat behind themselves quickly and concentrate on getting the points needed to take the Premier League title.

But City will be hoping that by the time the teams meet again on April 29 at the Etihad, they are within touching distance of an upset.

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