Mikel Arteta’s decision to stick with Kepa Arrizabalaga as cup goalkeeper will be one that haunts him, after Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City.
Kepa’s error allowed Nico O’Reilly to head Manchester City into the lead.
O’Reilly then headed in again just four minutes later to seal the win.
Kepa’s Costly Error in the Carabao Cup Final
There is no hiding place for a manager when decisions go against them.
Arteta is known for his ruthlessness but, by opting to stick with cup goalkeeper Kepa for the Carabao Cup final, he showed a rare glimpse of his sentimental side – especially with Arsenal having not won a major trophy since 2020.
Kepa let Rayan Cherki’s cross slip through his fingers, which allowed Nico O’Reilly to head Manchester City into the lead.
Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I never understand why managers play their second-choice goalkeepers in cup finals.
“You’re trying to win a trophy, why wouldn’t you play your number one to give yourself the best possible chance? That’s common sense.”
Trafford’s Performance Highlights Goalkeeping Contrast
Arteta’s decision to play Kepa over first choice David Raya was highlighted further because of the performance of City’s own cup goalkeeper, James Trafford.
Trafford was re-signed during the summer to be City’s number one before Gianluigi Donnarumma became available and the club moved to sign him from Paris St-Germain, which meant Trafford became second choice.
Trafford made an excellent triple save early in the game, when he denied Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka twice, to keep the scores level.
He went on to keep a clean sheet, while the questions about Kepa’s selection will dominate the headlines.
Arteta Defends Kepa Selection
For Arteta, it did not enter his mind to not play Kepa in the final.
The Arsenal manager said it would have been “very unfair” if he had not stuck with the Spain international, who had played every round of the cup competition before the final, and said he accepts the scrutiny coming his way.
“I understand that, but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and which is fair,” Arteta said.
“And I think we have an understanding keeper in Kepa – he’s played all the competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do something different.”
The former Chelsea goalkeeper signed for the Gunners in the summer to compete with first choice Raya.
Raya has 15 clean sheets in the Premier League, the most in the division, and has produced some standout saves during this campaign as Arsenal look to end their wait for a trophy.
Arteta says that despite Kepa’s limited game time this season he did not guarantee that the goalkeeper would play in Arsenal’s cup fixtures.
“I can never promise a player to play certain competitions, because at the end they have
Man City’s Cup Triumph
Pep Guardiola’s side never looked back after O’Reilly’s opener.
O’Reilly’s fairytale continues after the boyhood Man City fan became a Wembley winner.
Trafford ‘sets the tone’, while Kepa suffers ‘a bad moment’.
Arteta said: “And I think we have an understanding keeper in Kepa – he’s played all the competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do something different.”