Mikel Arteta Under Fire As Kepa Gamble Backfires In Carabao Cup Final Loss

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing mounting criticism after his decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of David Raya ended in disappointment in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

Naija News reports that the Gunners fell 2-0 at Wembley, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice to hand Pep Guardiola’s side the first major trophy of the season.

Kepa’s costly mistake shortly after the break proved decisive. The goalkeeper fumbled a routine ball, allowing O’Reilly to head into an empty net before adding a second minutes later.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp did not hold back in his assessment of the selection.

“Kepa is not as good as Raya that is why he is your number two,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports.

“You’ve gone so long without a trophy at Arsenal, and in a final, you decide to play him.

“It’s a monumental error by Arteta, and it has come back and backfired big time.”

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also questioned the call, arguing that Arteta should have prioritised results over rotation.

“I’ve got strong views on playing the second goalkeeper. I don’t like it, but I can understand it in some situations,” Carragher said.

“But Mikel Arteta does not owe Kepa anything. He owes Arsenal supporters the best possible chance of winning the first trophy in six years. They’ve won one trophy in nine years.”

Despite the backlash, Arteta stood firm. The Spaniard insisted he had no regrets over the decision.

“I would do that again. No regrets,” he said.

“I have to do what I think is right, honest and fair. It would have been very, very unfair on him and on the team to do something different.”

Arsenal remain in contention on multiple fronts this season, sitting nine points clear of City in the league while still active in Europe and the FA Cup.

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