Pep Guardiola claimed his first trophy in English football as Manchester City powered to a 3-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.

Sergio Aguero set the Premier League leaders on the way to victory with the opening goal before second half strikes from the outstanding Vincent Kompany and David Silva finished off the Gunners at Wembley.

It was an emphatic response from City after their bid for a quadruple came to an end with a shock FA Cup defeat to League One Wigan on Monday.

What they said

Pep Guardiola
(Adam Davy/EMPICS)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: “I’m so happy but I’m part of Manchester City, all the titles we won in the past is as part of a group. I can’t forget how they took care of me last season when the results were not good. I will always remember how all the club have supported me and that is why it is important.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We go away disappointed. I feel a little bit that everything went against us today. We self-inflicted our punishment, because we had an unbelievable chance at 0-0. We gave them a goal and were a bit unlucky in the second half, even if we didn’t start well at all, and were punished.”

Tweet of the match

Star man – Vincent Kompany

The Manchester City captain has battled against a string of injuries in recent years but he was back to his all-conquering best here. Not only did he cope with the threat of Arsenal’s club record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with little more than a shrug, he also turned home the crucial second goal for his side, with his enthusiastic celebration a release of the pent-up frustration of missing so much action.

Moment of the match

Shkodran Mustafi remonstrated with referee Craig Pawson as he felt he was fouled by Aguero before the opening goal
Shkodran Mustafi remonstrated with referee Craig Pawson as he felt he was fouled by Aguero before the opening goal (John Walton/EMPICS)

Aguero’s goal set the tone for Manchester City to coast to victory. The Argentina ace celebrated his 199th goal for the club having eased past Shkodran Mustafi to latch onto Claudio Bravo’s long goal-kick and weigh a chip over David Ospina to perfection.

Data point

Swansea lifted the League Cup after a 5-0 win against Bradford (John Walton/EMPICS)

Only one other of the last 12 League Cup finals has been settled by more than three goals. That was Swansea’s 5-0 thrashing of Bradford in 2013.

Ratings

Arsenal: David Ospina 5 (out of 10), Calum Chambers 5, Laurent Koscielny 5, Shkodran Mustafi 4, Hector Bellerin 5, Granit Xhaka 5, Aaron Ramsey 6, Nacho Monreal 6, Jack Wilshere 6, Mesut Ozil 5, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 5. Subs: Sead Kolasinac (for Monreal, 26) 5, Danny Welbeck (for Chambers, 65) 5, Alex Iwobi (for Ramsey, 72) 5.

Manchester City: Claudio Bravo 6, Kyle Walker 6, Vincent Kompany 9, Nicolas Otamendi 7, Danilo 6, Fernandinho 6, Ilkay Gundogan 7, David Silva 7, Kevin De Bruyne 7, Leroy Sane 6, Sergio Aguero 7. Subs: Bernardo Silva (for Fernandinho, 52) 6, Gabriel Jesus (for Sane, 77) 6, Phil Foden (for Aguero, 88) 5.

Who’s up next?

Arsenal v Manchester City (Premier League, March 1)