Mikel Arteta is receiving criticism in England for his decision to opt for Kepa Arrizabalaga as the starting goalkeeper in the Carabao Cup that Arsenal ended up losing 2-0 against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Spanish goalkeeper, who was chosen ahead of David Raya, made a mistake in the first goal by Nico O’Reilly at Wembley.
I’m not saying Kepa Arrizabalaga is a bad goalkeeper, but he’s not as good as Raya and the decision has been a big mistake
Harsh criticism in England of Mikel Arteta for starting Kepa instead of Raya in the Carabao Cup final
Jamie Redknapp suggested on ‘Sky Sports‘ that it was a mistake to play Kepa Arrizabalaga and that Mikel Arteta must take responsibility.
Kepa is not as good as Raya, that’s why he’s the second goalkeeper. You have to take responsibility; it’s a huge mistake
“I know people will say it’s sentimentality because he played in the earlier rounds, but Kepa is not as good as Raya, that’s why he’s the second goalkeeper. So why in an important final, when you’re fighting for the title and you’ve gone so long without winning a trophy, do you decide to line him up? You have to take responsibility; it’s a huge mistake,” said Redknapp.
The former footballer insisted that “I’m not saying Kepa Arrizabalaga is a bad goalkeeper, but he’s not as good as Raya and the decision has been a big mistake.”
Micah Richards, formerly of Manchester City, endorsed that “the difference between Raya and Kepa is huge, so in an important game you think: ‘You have to choose Raya’. Look, we can talk about it afterwards, but in the end we talk about it because it cost Arsenal the game.”
I made the decision that Kepa would start before the game based on his performance throughout the season. It would have been very unfair to choose another player
Former footballer Gary Neville commented on ‘Sky Sports’ that “they were pressing and the City fans could smell the blood behind that goal (Arsenal’s)”.
“It’s a howler from the goalkeeper (Kepa Arrizabalaga), a howler at a crucial moment, but it was blow after blow and O’Reilly took the opportunity,” said the former Manchester United man.
Mikel Arteta: “I have to do what I think is right, what is honest and fair, and I think we understand each other with Kepa”
Mikel Arteta defended Kepa Arrizabalaga’s selection, saying he had earned the opportunity to start at Wembley after playing in all the previous Carabao Cup matches.
The Spanish coach shared that “mistakes are part of football, and today, unfortunately, it happened at a crucial moment” and said that it would have been “very unfair” for Raya to have been in the starting line-up against City.
“I made the decision that Kepa would start before the game based on his performance throughout the season. The fact that he has played in the competition and helped us get to where we are today. It would have been very unfair to choose another player,” he said.
Mikel Arteta stressed that “I have to do what I think is right, what is honest and fair, and I think we understand each other with Kepa.”
“He played the whole competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do anything different… We are guided by what we have seen and what he has done, what he has done in the competition, and he helped us to get here. I think it’s the right thing to do, period,” he explained.
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