Jamie Redknapp called for Mikel Arteta to take the blame for Arsenal’s defeat by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final for a huge decision – starting his second-choice goalkeeper.
Kepa Arrizabalaga got the nod to start between the sticks for the Gunners at Wembley, chosen ahead of David Raya as Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper, having played every other match in the competition.
It was widely deemed as a risk and a downgrade on Raya, who usually plays Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League matches, and that proved to be true in the second-half.
Just after the hour mark, Kepa came out of his goal to try and catch Rayan Cherki’s cross, but fumbled the effort and the ball fell kindly into the path of Nico O’Reilly. Four minutes later, O’Reilly would score again as City won 2-0.
And Redknapp suggested that it was the wrong call to play the Spaniard – and that Arteta needs to take the blame for that.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I know people will say sentiment because he’s played in the earlier rounds, but Kepa is not as good as Raya, that’s why he’s your No2.
Jamie Redknapp (pictured) has pointed the blame at Mikel Arteta for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat
Arteta opted to start Kepa Arrizabalaga – who was at fault for the first goal – at Wembley
‘So why in a major final, when you’re trying to get across the line, you’ve not won a trophy in so long, do you decide to play him? You have to take responsibility for that – that is a monumental error.’
It was put to Redknapp that James Trafford, playing in goal for City, is the winners’ No2 and made three top-class saves in the first-half.
‘I’m not saying he’s a bad goalkeeper, but he’s not as good as Raya and it has backfired big time,’ Redknapp added. ‘You can turn around and say Trafford isn’t your No1 either, but he made three big saves and then he was hardly tested.’
Micah Richards went onto echo Redknapp’s views, explaining why the situation is different with Trafford.
Many thought the England star would be City’s No1 this season when he joined the club, but Gianluigi Donnarumma signed from Manchester City soon after to dislodge his spot.
Trafford has therefore been subject to mostly cup competitions, with nine of his 13 games this season coming in either the FA Cup or League Cup.
‘I think you’re right,’ Richards said. ‘When you asked about goalkeepers at the start, Trafford was brought in as a No1, he was ready – it’s just that Donnarumma came on the market.
‘The difference between Raya and Kepa is so big, so in a big game, you’re thinking, “you’ve got to go with Raya”. Look, we can talk about it after, but ultimately we’re talking about it because (it) cost Arsenal the game.’
Kepa got the nod ahead of David Raya having started every game in the competition this year
Arteta (pictured) said he would have made the same call if he were put in the position again
Arteta was questioned on his call after the game, insisting he would do the same thing if in the situation again.
He spoke of loyalty to his player, who has split opinion throughout his career, and how he had played every game in the competition.
‘I made a decision before the game based on what he has done all season,’ Arteta said. ‘The fact he has played in the competition and helped us be where we are today.
‘It would have been very unfair to choose a different one.’
Gary Neville, meanwhile, said Arsenal brought pressure on themselves and pinpointed Kepa – who had repeatedly put his foot on top of the ball to slow down passing around the backline to hunt for options on where to play the ball – as an issue.
It was that behaviour that Neville dubbed ‘nonsense,’ leading to ‘punch after punch’ coming from City on the Arsenal goal.
‘They were knocking at the door and City’s fans could smell blood behind that goal,’ Neville said on Sky Sports. ‘It is a really bad one by the goalkeeper, a real howler in a massive moment, but it was punch after punch and O’Reilly steals in.
‘City deserve that, they have been much the better team at the start of the second-half and Arsenal now need to show up – what has happened to them in this second-half? They have shrunk. Arsenal have gone missing in this second-half.’
It’s not the first time Kepa has grabbed headlines in a Carabao Cup final. In 2019 against Man City he refused to be substituted by Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri in a game the Blues ultimately lost on penalties.
And in 2022 he came on as a ‘penalty specialist’ in the final against Liverpool before failing to save any of the Reds’ penalties and then blazing the decisive spot-kick of his own over the crossbar.
