Manchester City won the EFL Cup when they realized Arsenal had nothing to scare them with

City were 2-0 winners on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, claiming the EFL Cup with an efficient second half

LONDON -- Given the style with which they won this contest, it is perhaps worth noting how peripheral Manchester City's involvement was for the first half at Wembley Stadium. With 43 minutes played, the Arsenal goal had yet to face a touch. Erling Haaland hadn't had a sniff of a touch in the penalty area. This was an attritional contest that would surely only have one goal in it. 

Until it wasn't. Something changed with City, something that tells us as much about Arsenal as it does Pep Guardiola's side. They attacked the EFL Cup final without fear because they realized just how little there was to fear. Just before the stroke of halftime, the dribblers were unleashed and somehow, gambling in a load of one-on-one duels against some of the best defenders in the land felt like a can't lose bet.

Not that City were entirely loath to take on Arsenal from the outset. Why would you be when you've got Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo and of course Jeremy Doku in your team? City attempted 11 take-ons in the first half and had their moments of threat but more often than not crashed into two or three red shirts. Doku, in particular, was finding himself swallowed up and without him, City's means of advancing into dangerous areas was seriously compromised.

In response, City concluded that if they couldn't get the ball into the danger area through their forwards alone, everyone would have a try. When Peter Bankes blew his whistle, he unleashed 11 tyros intent on going at Arsenal. Matheus Nunes gave and went, less your archetypal inverting full back than a juggernaut through the middle of the pitch. Bernardo Silva didn't move with quite the same pace but the effect was no different. City were driving forward, unencumbered by any fear of what Arsenal might do if they turned the ball over.

This wasn't so much some grand tactical gambit by Guardiola, who seemed as surprised as anyone that his team were able to impose themselves on Arsenal in such fashion. "I could not believe how well we did in the second half," he said. Nor could Arteta, who could only watch on as his defense was overwhelmed by bodies.