Pep Guardiola set off down the touchline, unleashing his inner Jose Mourinho on a joyous run into the history books. Given how much else Guardiola has achieved, a fifth League Cup – more than any other manager in the competition’s history – may be a footnote. But a first trophy for his new-look Manchester City side has a significance for Guardiola, offering proof of his ability to renew and revive.
And denying his former assistant Mikel Arteta silverware, and a quadruple, meant this was not the day to prove there has been a changing of the guard. Guardiola is still a serial winner, Arteta a manager accustomed to coming second to his old mentor. A day when Arsenal paid a price for both their dullness and the lone risk Arteta took – in his choice of goalkeeper – was an occasion when City could celebrate one of their own.
