Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a staunch defense of his decision to utilize Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Carabao Cup final, despite the goalkeeper’s high-profile error in the 2–0 defeat to Manchester City. As the North London club aimed to secure the first leg of a potential quadruple at Wembley on Sunday, the tactical choice to bench first-choice David Raya became the primary talking point of a scoreless first half characterized by cautious maneuvering. However, the game’s equilibrium was shattered shortly after the interval when an unforced error from Kepa allowed City’s Nico O’Reilly to nod the opener into an unprotected net.
The momentum shifted irrevocably following the blunder, with O’Reilly striking again just four minutes later to consolidate Pep Guardiola’s ninth League Cup title. Confronted with intense scrutiny regarding his selection policy during the post-match briefing, Arteta remained unrepentant. The manager emphasized that his loyalty to the Spanish backup—who has been the ever-present figure in Arsenal’s domestic cup run this season—was a matter of professional integrity and meritocracy within the squad.
Addressing the controversy, Arteta stated:
“I would do that again. No regrets. 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.”
Despite the sting of the Wembley loss, the broader context of Arsenal’s season remains remarkably positive. The Gunners continue to dictate the pace of the Premier League title race, maintaining a comfortable nine-point cushion over Manchester City with only a handful of fixtures remaining. Furthermore, the club remains a formidable contender on the European stage and in the FA Cup, suggesting that while the Carabao Cup has eluded them, the core objectives of their 2025/26 campaign are still very much within reach.
For Arteta, the focus now shifts to psychological recovery as the squad enters the final sprint of the season. While pundits like Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp have labeled the goalkeeping swap a “monumental error,” the Arsenal boss appears determined to protect his locker room culture from external noise. As the international break provides a brief respite, the question remains whether this “fairness-first” approach will serve as a unifying force or a lingering distraction in the Gunners’ pursuit of more prestigious silverware.
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