Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga in the League Cup final, insisting it was “right and fair” despite a high-profile error that helped Manchester City to a 2-0 victory.

The Spaniard, who has played second choice to David Raya in the Premier League, was guilty of a significant lapse in the second half at Wembley. Kepa allowed a cross from Rayan Cherki to slip through his fingers, gifting City’s Nico O’Reilly the opening goal.

O’Reilly struck again just four minutes later, effectively ending Arsenal’s hopes of a first major trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 2020.

A gamble backfires

Arteta had opted to keep faith with Kepa because the former Chelsea goalkeeper had been the regular starter throughout the tournament. However, the decision will come under intense scrutiny given the magnitude of the error.

“I understand [the criticism], but I have to do what is right and fair,” Arteta said after the match. “Kepa had played the whole competition; I think it would have been unfair to him and the team to do something different.”

The mistake adds another chapter to Kepa’s difficult history with League Cup finals. He famously refused to be substituted for Chelsea during the 2019 final against Manchester City and missed a decisive penalty in the 2022 shootout defeat to Liverpool.

‘A bad taste’

Despite sitting nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arsenal appeared surprisingly conservative for long periods at Wembley. The defeat ends their ambitions of a quadruple and leaves the North London club facing questions over their ability to deliver on the biggest stage.

“Very sad, very hard one to take,” Arteta admitted. “We were the better team in the first half and had the biggest chance. If we scored that, it would have changed the game.”

Analysis: A test of momentum

For Manchester City, the win provides a psychological boost as they continue to chase Arsenal in the domestic league. For the Gunners, the focus must now shift rapidly to the Premier League title race to ensure a promising season does not end without silverware.

“Errors are part of football, and unfortunately, it happened today at a crucial moment,” Arteta added. “You have to give credit to the opposition. They raised their level and capitalised on their moments. We didn’t.”