Manchester City dismantle Arsenal to win first silverware under Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola secured his first trophy in English football as Manchester City overwhelmed Arsenal 3-0 in a very one-sided League Cup final at Wembley.

Sergio Aguero got the Citizens up and running when he coolly lobbed home his 30th goal of the season after Shkodran Mustafi made a terrible misjudgement defending Claudio Bravo's goal kick.

Arsenal had started well and forced the City keeper to produce a quite stunning save to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from close-range. However, it proved to be a rare moment of threat as City upped their level after the break to leave Arsene Wenger's hopes of a first triumph in this competition in tatters.

Vincent Kompany added the second just prior to the hour before David Silva rifled in another seven minutes later as City's old guard produced the match-winning contributions.

For Guardiola, it is a seventh success in eight major domestic and European finals as a coach and clinches the first silverware of a potential treble, with the Premier League and Champions League firmly in the Catalan coach's sights.

Just the first for Pep's City. A third league cup final success in five seasons may well be the springboard to something special for Guardiola & Co this term and it is perhaps the perfect conclusion to a week that started with the shock loss to League One, Wigan in the FA Cup. The quadruple is gone but with the Premier League all-but in the bag and a place in the last eight of the Champions League almost certain, he could yet toast a treble come May. It's a new era for the Citizens, but it was sealed by an old guard who have all been there and done it before with the club (with 950 appearances between them). In stark contrast, it's more misery for Wenger who will expect to come under harsh criticism once again in the coming days. The second period of his time at the Gunners looks set to be remembered for one of gradual decline, with the Europa League seemingly his only hope of salvaging what has been another disappointing campaign so far.

Vincent Kompany (Man City). The Belgian has mixed joy with injury misery during his time at City and was by no means a first choice to start this final. He responded like a true winner, producing a superb captain's display that he marked with a goal that proved to be very popular with teammates and fans alike.

ARSENAL: Ospina 6, Bellerin 5, Koscielny 6, Mustafi 5, Chambers 5, Monreal 5, Xhaka 6, Ramsey 6, Wilshere 6, Ozil 5, Aubameyang 5. Subs: Kolasinac 6, Welbeck 5, Iwobi 5.

MAN CITY: Bravo 8, Walker 7, Kompany 8, Otamendi 7, Danilo 7, Fernandinho 7, D.Silva 7, Gundogan 7, De Bruyne 7, Sane 7, Aguero 8. Subs: B.Silva 7, Jesus 6, Foden n/a.

Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary

8' - ARSENAL CHANCE! Arsenal counter through Wilshere. It's prodded through to Ozil on the right of the box, who squares it for Aubameyang, but the striker sees his attempt from close range somehow blocked and smothered by Bravo.

19' - GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Man City. Aguero gives City the lead as he races through the middle and coolly lobs Ospina. It all came from Bravo's goal kick that Mustafi completely misjudged.

49' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Almost two as Kompany's 20-yard effort deflects just wide after the Belgian had pounced upon Sane's nod down.

58' - GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Man City. Kompany diverts Gundogan's low 18-yard drive into the net after De Bruyne had picked the German out with a corner from the right.

65' - GOAL! Arsenal 0-3 Man City. David Silva spins onto Danilo's pass and rifles a low effort into the far corner from the left side of the box.

Aguero’s 199th goal for Man City was his 30th of the season - the fourth time in seven seasons at the club that he has reached that figure.

Aguero has scored in each of his last five games in all competitions against Arsenal; against no other side has he netted in more successive appearances for Manchester City.

No manager has lost more League Cup finals than Arsene Wenger (2007, 2011 and 2018), level with Alex Ferguson (who also won the trophy four times).

City have won the League Cup for the fifth time in their history – only Liverpool (8) have won it more often.

Arsenal conceded 3+ goals at Wembley for the first time since October 1999 (2-4 v Barcelona in the Champions League).