Carabao Cup showdown: Arteta stands by Kepa choice despite goalkeeper's gaffe costing Arsenal the match

Mikel Arteta stood by his choice to start Kepa Arrizabalaga in the League Cup final, despite the goalkeeper's crucial error that led to a 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday. The mistake occurred in the second half at Wembley, where Kepa failed to grasp Rayan Cherki's cross, allowing Nico O'Reilly to score the opening goal.

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Arsenal's hopes of winning their first major trophy since 2020 were dashed as O'Reilly scored again just four minutes later, leaving the team empty-handed. Arteta had chosen to stick with Kepa, who has been the regular goalkeeper in the League Cup this season, instead of opting for first-choice stopper David Raya.

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The decision ultimately backfired, as Kepa experienced another disappointing moment in a League Cup final, reminiscent of his 2019 refusal to be substituted by Maurizio Sarri before a penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester City. Kepa also had a notable miss in a penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool three years later.

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When questioned about the criticism of his decision, Arteta responded by saying he had to make a fair choice, considering Kepa's involvement in the competition throughout the season. He emphasized that removing Kepa from the lineup would have been unfair to both the player and the team.

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Arteta acknowledged that errors are an inherent part of football, and unfortunately, Kepa's mistake occurred at a critical moment in the game. Despite being nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arsenal failed to meet expectations and lost to City.

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The team's conservative approach for much of the game at Wembley ultimately led to their defeat, leaving them without a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup and ending their quadruple bid. Arteta expressed his disappointment, stating that the loss was difficult to accept and left a bad taste.

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Arteta reflected on the game, saying that Arsenal had the better chances in the first half and that scoring early on could have changed the outcome. However, the team struggled in the first 20 minutes of the second half and conceded a goal in an unexpected manner.

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Arteta gave credit to Manchester City for raising their level of play and capitalizing on their opportunities, while acknowledging that his team failed to do the same. He summarized the game by saying that the opposition deserved credit for their performance.