Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to start goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the League Cup final, following a critical error that contributed to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Costly Mistake Proves Decisive
The match turned early in the second half when Kepa failed to deal with a cross from Rayan Cherki, allowing the ball to slip through his hands and fall to Nico O’Reilly, who headed home the opening goal.
City capitalised on the momentum, with O’Reilly scoring again just four minutes later to seal victory and secure the trophy for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The defeat extends Arsenal’s wait for a major title, with their last silverware coming in the FA Cup in 2020.
Arteta Stands by His Decision
Arteta opted to start Kepa ahead of first-choice goalkeeper David Raya, citing the Spaniard’s consistent role throughout the League Cup campaign.
Responding to criticism after the match, Arteta emphasised fairness and squad continuity.
“I understand, but I have to do what is right and fair,” he said. “Kepa had played all the competition. I think it would have been unfair to him and the team to do something different.”
He added:
“Errors are part of football and unfortunately it happened today at a crucial moment.”
Familiar Struggles for Kepa
The final marked another difficult chapter in Kepa’s history in domestic cup competitions. The goalkeeper was previously involved in high-profile incidents, including the 2019 League Cup final with Chelsea, where he refused to be substituted before a penalty shootout defeat, and a missed penalty in a shootout loss to Liverpool in 2022.
Arsenal Fall Short Despite Strong Season
Despite leading the Premier League title race by nine points, Arsenal were unable to translate domestic dominance into cup success.
Arteta admitted the defeat was a significant setback.
“Very sad, very hard one to take. We know how much it means and how much we wanted it,” he said. “The fact we haven’t delivered that is disappointing and leaves a bad taste.”
He noted that Arsenal had been the stronger side in the first half but failed to maintain their level after the break.
“In the first 20 minutes of the second half we weren’t at our best. We struggled to get out of our block and conceded the goal in an unexpected manner.”
Looking Ahead
Arteta urged his players to regroup quickly as they continue their pursuit of Premier League success.
“You have to give credit to the opposition. They raised their level and capitalised on their moments. We didn’t,” he concluded.
While the League Cup final ended in disappointment, Arsenal remain firmly in contention for league honours, with the focus now shifting to maintaining their advantage at the top of the table.
