after a third defeat from three finals. He might not get another chance to fill that gap on his CV. If this is to be the last game he manages at Wembley, it was a desperate ending.
His team were played off the park by a City side displaying the sort of incisive, attacking, dominant football he once inspired his Arsenal teams to produce.
Having started the game pacing his technical area, kicking every ball, challenging every decision with fourth official Graham Scott and Pep Guardiola, frustration eventually took over as his team unravelled before his eyes.
Wenger ended the game slumped in his seat and resigned to defeat like his players who slumped sheepishly out of Wembley without a word to explain their collapse. They were branded “a disgrace” and brainless” by pundit Gary Neville.
Wenger ran out of fight too and simply had no answer to City or Guardiola.
After the final whistle, he stayed out on the pitch, separate from his players and alone with his thoughts, as City climbed the Wembley steps. But he dashed off the pitch first, straight after the trophy was lifted, reaching the tunnel before the first pieces of silver and gold ticker tape had even landed.
If his defenders had reacted as quickly before Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva struck, Arsenal and Wenger’s prospects for this season and beyond would look very different today. FORMER West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-coker is a target for MK Dons.
Reo-coker, 33, is a free agent and has been without a club since leaving the Norwegian club IK Start last June.
He has been training with the Dons as new manager Dan Micciche looks to strengthen his squad.
Reo-coker (above) has not played in England since leaving Ipswich in 2013.
Wilshere (left) is injured as Arsenal are battered SORRY LOT Arsenal’s players were accused of lacking fight and probably outside the top four again.TV pundit Gary Neville (below) said: “I’m coming for Arsenal because they’re a disgrace. Look at Ramsey jogging back (for the third goal), absolute disgrace they are, giving up. Spineless.”But Wenger hit back, saying: “When you lose a game like that everything is questioned by TV personalities, every time you don’t win.“We played a good side, they dominate the Premier League and pundits have not always played at 200 per cent – at 3-0 it’s difficult to come back.”The Gunners boss was unhappy with two of City’s goals, claiming Shkodran Mustafi was fouled in the build-up to Sergio Aguero’s opener and that Leroy Sane was offside before Vincent Kompany’s second.have lost six of their eight League Cup finals, including each of their last three – the only domestic trophy Arsene Wenger has failed to win with Arsenal.fact, the Gunners are the first side in League Cup history to lose in three successive appearances in the final (2007, 2011 and 2018).manager has lost more LeagueCup finals thanArsene Wenger(in 2007, 2011 and 2018), level with Alex Ferguson(right), who also won the trophy four times.had just two shots in the whole of the second half, failing to have one on target. In fact, the north London side’s two shots on target came in the opening 23 minutes.was the biggest win by a Premier League team against another in a League Cup final since 2006 (Man Utd 4-0 Wigan), and biggest in a League Cup final at Wembley since 1996 (Aston Villa 3-0 Leeds).
DAVID MCGOLDRICK faces an uncertain future after damaging a tendon in his groin.The Ipswich striker (left) is out of contract this summer and boss Mick Mccarthy said: “He’s had bad injuries and they’re long ones.”