Former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna has come to the defense of Mikel Arteta’s tactical choices following the Gunners’ 2–0 loss to Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final. Despite a wave of post-match scrutiny regarding the decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga over first-choice keeper David Raya, Sagna insisted that the blame for the defeat should not rest solely on the Spaniard’s shoulders. While a high-profile handling error by Kepa allowed Nico O’Reilly to break the deadlock in the 60th minute, Sagna argued that a lack of collective aggression and a critical first-half miss by Kai Havertz were more significant factors in the outcome.
The final at Wembley began with Arsenal showing early promise, particularly when Kai Havertz was presented with a golden opportunity to put the North Londoners ahead. However, the German international was thwarted by a stunning save from Manchester City’s James Trafford, a moment Sagna believes shifted the psychological momentum of the match. Arteta’s decision to stick with Kepa—who had been the designated “cup keeper” throughout the tournament—initially seemed justified by a competitive first 45 minutes, but the momentum swung decisively when O’Reilly capitalized on a fumbled cross to head home just four minutes before doubling his tally to seal City’s ninth League Cup title.
Analyzing the tactical breakdown for Covers via Football.London, Sagna expressed his support for Arteta’s selection while critiquing the team’s second-half passivity:
“Mikel Arteta didn’t make a mistake by starting Kepa in goal instead of David Raya. Although his error led to a goal against Arsenal, it wasn’t the sole reason for the Gunners’ defeat. Arsenal began to play more defensively in the second half and allowed Manchester City to apply pressure. They need to learn how to play more aggressively, sending the ball forward to take pressure off and set up a strong defensive line, instead of keeping it in their own half.”
Sagna was particularly vocal about the missed chance from Havertz, suggesting that clinical finishing in the opening stages would have forced Manchester City to abandon their compact defensive shape. He also offered significant praise for James Trafford, whose man-of-the-match performance included a series of vital stops that kept the Gunners at bay during their most dominant spells. For Sagna, the trend of over-playing from the back proved to be Arsenal’s undoing against a City side that thrived on pouncing after the interval.
“Every time they had the ball, they were too focused on playing from the back and ended up getting punished for it. If Kai Havertz had managed to score his early opportunity in the match, the outcome might have been entirely different. He needed to shoot earlier in order to have more goals to aim at, but James Trafford made a series of excellent saves and deserves considerable praise for his performance.”
The defeat marks a significant blow to Arsenal’s aspirations for a domestic quadruple, but Sagna’s assessment highlights a need for tactical pragmatism as they return to Premier League and Champions League action. As the dust settles on the Wembley showpiece, the focus shifts from individual errors to a broader conversation about how the Gunners manage high-pressure situations against elite opposition. With the international break looming, Arteta will likely use Sagna’s “play dirty” philosophy as a blueprint for the grueling season run-in.
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