Pundits Slam Arteta's Kepa Gamble as Error Costs Arsenal Carabao Cup Final
Football pundits have expressed bewilderment at Mikel Arteta's decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Carabao Cup final, with a critical error from the goalkeeper proving costly in Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. The match, held on Sunday 22 March 2026, saw Kepa spill a simple cross in the 60th minute, allowing Nico O'Reilly to head into an empty net from close range and open the scoring.
Redknapp Labels Selection a 'Monumental Error'
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was particularly scathing in his assessment, describing Arteta's choice as a 'monumental error'. 'I know people will say it's sentiment and he played in the earlier rounds, but Kepa is not as good as Raya. That's why he is the number two,' Redknapp explained. 'So why, in a major cup final when you're trying to get across the line and you've not won a trophy in so long, do you decide to play him? You have to take responsibility for that.'
Redknapp emphasised that his criticism was not hindsight, stating he had voiced concerns before the game. 'It's not me being wise after the event, I said it before the game. He's not a bad goalkeeper – he's not as good as Raya. It has backfired big time.'
Wright Agrees Gamble Did Not Pay Off
Fellow pundit and Arsenal legend Ian Wright concurred, noting that Arteta's 'gamble didn't pay off'. 'It was the fashion of the mistake [from Kepa] that makes you think 'that's a number two',' Wright said. 'It's something you wouldn't see a number one goalkeeper make and it's unfortunate because it's the turning point. If we don't concede that goal and we get the subs on, we might get into the game a bit.'
The error proved decisive, as O'Reilly scored his second goal just four minutes later, sealing Manchester City's victory and handing them the Carabao Cup trophy. The momentum shift was palpable, with City dominating proceedings after the opening goal.
Arteta Defends His Decision
Despite the backlash, Arteta stood by his selection of Kepa, who had featured consistently in the competition leading up to the final. 'I can never promise a player to play certain competitions, they have to earn it and do enough,' the Arsenal manager stated. 'We are guided by what we see. What he's done in the competition, and how he helped us to get us to the final, I believe it was the right thing to do. Errors are part of football, and unfortunately it happened in a crucial moment.'
Arsenal's Trophy Drought Continues
The result extends Arsenal's trophy drought, with the club still without silverware since their FA Cup win in 2020. However, there is a silver lining in the Premier League title race, where Arsenal currently lead by nine points over Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Looking ahead, the two rivals are set to face off again at the Etihad Stadium on 19 April in a potentially decisive league encounter. Before that, Arsenal will turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-final, where they will host Southampton on 4 April following the international break. The pressure is now on Arteta and his squad to bounce back and end their wait for a major trophy.
