BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has celebrated his first major trophy with Manchester City in style, delivering a confident performance and a cheeky post-match remark following the club’s 2–0 victory over Arsenal in the EFL (Carabao) Cup final.
Antoine Semenyo played a pivotal role as Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal to win the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday.
The triumph, secured at Wembley Stadium, saw City lift another piece of domestic silverware under manager Pep Guardiola, with teenage midfielder Nico O’Reilly emerging as the hero.
O’Reilly struck twice in quick succession shortly after halftime, scoring a decisive brace within four minutes to turn a tightly contested encounter into a controlled victory for the reigning champions.
While O’Reilly’s goals ultimately settled the contest, Semenyo’s influence throughout the game was significant, particularly in his individual battle against Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié. Operating from the wings, the Ghanaian forward consistently stretched Arsenal’s backline, using his pace and direct running to create problems and open up space in attacking areas.
The duel between Semenyo and Hincapié became one of the defining subplots of the match. The Arsenal defender’s early booking forced him into a more cautious approach, limiting his aggression in one-on-one situations. Semenyo capitalised on that shift, repeatedly driving at him and forcing defensive errors, before Hincapié was eventually substituted midway through the second half.
Speaking after the game, Semenyo did not hold back in reflecting on his dominance in that encounter, offering a confident assessment of his performance.
“I just have that freedom to do what I want on the wing, get at defenders and cause problems — I had Hincapié running around a little bit,” he told Sky Sports.
The remark drew a playful reaction from pundit Ian Wright, who responded humorously, “You had him on his hind legs, bro!” — a comment that further highlighted Semenyo’s impact on the game.
Semenyo doubled down on his analysis, explaining how the booking influenced the contest. “That’s just what I do. As soon as he got booked, he was backing off a lot, so it gave me the opportunity to drive at him and get in the box,” he added.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Semenyo’s career. Having only joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January, the 26-year-old has already secured silverware within months of arriving, underlining both his rapid adaptation and importance to Guardiola’s squad.
