Amidst the familiar scene when Manchester City lifted the trophy - something that certainly made Arsenal more painful - noteworthy details still appeared at Wembley.
One of them was a rather long conversation between Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel when the Spanish coach walked up to receive the Carabao Cup. Guardiola seemed excited as if it was his first title in his glorious career at Man City.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice - who is still waiting for a title with Arsenal - also had a longer exchange with Tuchel before the match. This midfielder seems to be the person most affected by the defeat, clearly reflecting the general mood of the whole team.
It can be said that no one in Arsenal is disappointed in the way after the draw with Wolves, because they understand their true goal. Conversely, Man City is starting to talk more about taking advantage of this boost to continue the Premier League title race. Guardiola, once again, looks full of energy thanks to the effect that young players like Nico O'Reilly bring.
Carabao Cup always has its own meaning, but more importantly is its impact on the rest of the season. Guardiola celebrated emotionally, even more than usual, when raising the fifth cup in his career at this tournament - an unprecedented record.
Although many people mentioned psychological and motivational factors, many fans present at Wembley paid more attention to the fitness of the two teams. Both Arsenal and Man City showed signs of exhaustion.
Arteta admitted that this is Arsenal's 50th match this season, while Man City is also eroded by a dense schedule, including the FIFA Club World Cup.
That partly explains why the match lacked sharp plays and clear opportunities, and at the same time, there were many inaccurate technical handling situations, especially from Arsenal.
Inside Arsenal, many people see this simply as a day of "not doing anything right". And they believe that this defeat is not too serious, because the team still has bigger goals ahead.
That is also the reason why Tuchel's formation division strategy in the England team is highly appreciated, helping key players like Rice have more time to recover. However, the difference on the field is undeniable.
Rodri has the best performance since returning from injury, completely controlling the midfield. Bernardo Silva and Rayan Cherki bring the necessary creativity, while Arsenal lacks those factors.
Both teams did not press as strongly as expected, but Man City still did better. When Arsenal tried to drag the match into a stalemate, City patiently resisted, before taking advantage of the space to promote the techniques of Cherki and Silva.
The Gunners simply did not have similar options. The absence of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze significantly reduced creativity. Some Arsenal players still viewed the match in a positive direction, when they forced James Trafford to make many saves and had some times the ball hit the woodwork, while Man City did not create too many chances. However, that led to a core problem: the goalkeeper's position.
Kepa Arrizabalaga's mistake in the first goal conceded was a turning point. If he had handled Cherki's cross well, the match could have lasted until extra time. If David Raya had started, the outcome might have been different.
But those assumptions do not change the reality. Arteta remains steadfast in his choice, because he believes that the change will affect the team's culture. However, in a final, pragmatism is sometimes put first.
More importantly, this match was also a tactical battle between the two coaches. Guardiola once again showed flexibility when adjusting his playing style in the second half, switching to deep defense instead of high-pressing.
That change put Arsenal in a deadlock. Martin Zubimendi had a match below his ability, his ball deployment ability was limited, and his continuous combinations were interrupted.
Personnel issues also contribute to creating a difference. If there are Odegaard and Eze, Havertz can be pushed higher, helping Arsenal be more diverse in attack. Conversely, Man City takes good advantage of the space with Rodri, Silva, Cherki and O'Reilly.
Arteta clearly has much to consider before the important rematch in the Premier League. But The Citizens cannot be subjective, because if both teams continue to play in this way, the game may fall into deadlock again. However, psychological factors can still make a difference.
Finally, Guardiola once again surpassed Arteta in the battle of wits. And that is a reminder that his former student still has a long way to go.
To move towards the match on April 19, Arteta will have to find a way to deal with Man City's pressing system, and at the same time make more accurate personnel choices. As for Guardiola, he proves that he always has a new idea to keep the familiar scenario repeating.
