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  "path": "/2026/03/22/mikel-arteta-sends-message-to-phenomenal-kepa-after-carabao-cup-final-disaster-27606235/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-22T20:31:59.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Carabao Cup",
    "Kepa Arrizabalaga",
    "Manchester City FC",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City",
    "Arteta rewarding him with a place in the starting XI against Pep Guardiola’s side.",
    "Gianluigi Donnarumma",
    "David Raya",
    "Brentford",
    "Chelsea",
    "Sign up here",
    "@metrosportuk",
    "kepa",
    "mancity",
    "carabaocup",
    "oreilly",
    "♬ original sound - Metro Sport",
    "described the decision as a ‘monumental error’ from Arteta.",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Kepa Arrizabalaga started ahead of David Raya (Picture: Getty)\n\nMikel Arteta has defended Kepa Arrizabalaga after his error in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City, insisting he does not regret starting his no2 goalkeeper.\n\nKepa was named in goal in every previous round in the competition ahead of Sunday’s final at Wembley with Arteta rewarding him with a place in the starting XI against Pep Guardiola’s side.\n\nThe Man City boss did likewise with James Trafford ahead of regular no1 Gianluigi Donnarumma.\n\nIt meant David Raya was named among the subs despite the former Brentford star being one of Arsenal’s best players this season.\n\nAfter a tight first-half, Kepa was at fault for Nico O’Reilly’s first goal on the hour mark, dropping a cross into the path of the 21-year-old who nodded home from close range.\n\nIt followed an unconvincing start to the second-half from the former Chelsea goalkeeper who had the ball at his feet in his own box for 36 seconds before finding a teammate at one point.\n\nIn his post-match press conference, Arteta stressed it would have been ‘unfair’ to drop Kepa given his role in Arsenal’s run to the final.\n\n##  Your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week's biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nKepa could not hold onto the cross that led to City’s opener (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘I understand that but I have to do what I feel is right,’ Arteta said. ‘He has played all the competition and I think it would have been very unfair.’\n\nSpeaking to Sky Sports after the game, Arteta doubled down on his decision, insisting he would ‘do it again’ after labelling Kepa a ‘phenomenal player’ for his team.\n\n##  Arsenal 0-2 Man City - Metro at the Match\n\nManchester City have secured the first silverware of the season after Arsenal failed to deliver at Wembley.\n\nThe quadruple dream is over and the Gunners must now pick up the pieces after a sobering setback.\n\nFor City, it has breathed life into their campaign after a dismal Champions League exit this week.\n\n> @metrosportuk\n>\n> Kepa won’t want to watch that one back 😬 Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final following a huge mistake from the Gunners’ goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, which lead to a quick brace from Nico O’Reilly. #kepa #arsenal #mancity #carabaocup #oreilly\n>\n> ♬ original sound - Metro Sport\n\n**Kepa gamble backfires spectacularly**\n\nMikel Arteta decided to keep faith in Kepa Arrizabalaga after starting the Spaniard in each round of the competition leading up to the final at Wembley today.\n\nPep Guardiola did likewise with James Trafford, but it was Arsenal who paid the price for dropping one of their best players. From the moment the second-half kicked off, Kepa dallied on the ball, inviting the pressure that would inevitably swarm all over the Gunners and trigger their downfall.\n\nRaya has been spectacular this season, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League by some margin and in sublime form. Had he started, Sunday may have been a very different story.\n\nArsenal still have plenty left to fight for (Picture: Getty)\n\n**Old Arsenal fears reignited**\n\nWe have seen Arsenal collapse in the past. Past failures have so often been used as a stick to beat them with but things have felt different this season.\n\nVictory today would have gone some way in erasing the lingering fears over another derailment . But defeat at Wembley could serve as a catalyst for something much bleaker.\n\nArteta got his biggest decision on the day wrong (Picture: Getty)\n\nArsenal are still fighting on three fronts, in control of the Premier League title race and well-placed to continue marching on in Europe. But the effects of today could be season-altering. The woeful second-half showing was as bad as anything served up by them this term on the stage where they needed to be their best.\n\n**O'Reilly steps up**\n\nCity needed a hero at Wembley and they found a home-grown one. With Phil Foden only coming on as an injury time substitute, left-back O'Reilly stepped up as City's savour with two headers to save their season.\n\nCity were fantastic in the second period to a man and fed off Arsenal's apprehension but it was the 21-year-old set the standard when they needed inspiration.\n\n**_Tony Mogan, live sports editor_**\n\n‘I would do it again because he deserves to play this game. He has been phenomenal for us. Errors are part of football and anyone can make them.’\n\nJamie Redknapp, on punditry duty for ITV and Sky Sports, described the decision as a ‘monumental error’ from Arteta.\n\n‘Kepa is not as good as (David) Raya, that’s why he is number two,’ he said.\n\n‘Why in a major cup final when you are trying to get across the line and haven’t won a trophy in so long do you decide to play him?\n\n‘You have to take responsibility for that, that is a monumental error. He is not a bad goalkeeper, but he’s not as good as Raya. That has backfired big time.’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Mikel Arteta sends message to ‘phenomenal’ Kepa after Carabao Cup final disaster"
}