Former Liverpool defender and prominent pundit Jamie Carragher has identified Mikel Arteta’s choice of personnel as the defining factor in Arsenal’s disappointing 2–0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. As the two Premier League frontrunners converged on Wembley for the season’s first domestic showpiece, the “Gunners” saw their hopes of ending a six-year major trophy drought vanish. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) in the aftermath of the match, Carragher argued that Arteta’s decision to bench undisputed number one David Raya in favor of backup Kepa Arrizabalaga was a failure to acknowledge the gravity of the occasion and the expectations of the North London faithful.
The tactical gamble backfired spectacularly on the hour mark when Kepa—who joined the club last summer specifically to provide cover for Raya—struggled to deal with a high, searching cross from City’s Rayan Cherki. The 31-year-old Spaniard fumbled the delivery, allowing academy graduate Nico O’Reilly to nod home the opener from point-blank range. O’Reilly doubled the lead just four minutes later, while Kepa ended the contest without a single save to his name, as Manchester City clinicaly converted both of their shots on target. This performance stood in sharp contrast to David Raya’s league-leading form, which has seen him accumulate 15 clean sheets so far in the 2025/26 campaign.
Reflecting on the selection logic, Carragher stated:
“It was a significant mistake by Mikel Arteta to select Kepa over Raya. When a club has gone so long without a trophy, it is essential to field your strongest team in a final for the sake of your supporters.”
Despite the mounting criticism, Arteta remained steadfast in his post-match defense, asserting that he chose to reward Kepa for his consistency throughout the tournament. The manager noted that it was only “just” to allow the goalkeeper who had participated in every previous round to finish the job at Wembley. However, observers pointed out that while City also utilized a rotation option in James Trafford, the young Englishman produced a vital triple save early in the match to deny Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, ultimately justifying Pep Guardiola’s faith.
The defeat marks a painful milestone for Arsenal, who last tasted major success in the 2020 FA Cup. While the club remains nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and active in both the Champions League and FA Cup, the loss of a “winnable” final has sparked a fierce debate regarding Arteta’s knockout-stage pragmatism. For Carragher and many frustrated supporters, the decision to prioritize squad harmony over the best possible starting XI was an unnecessary risk that has now left the Gunners with no margin for error as they pursue the remaining three fronts of a potential quadruple.
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