Carragher Criticises Arteta Over Kepa Selection in Carabao Cup Final

• Jamie Carragher says Mikel Arteta “does not owe Kepa anything” after final defeat
• Kepa Arrizabalaga at fault for Manchester City’s opening goal at Wembley
• Arteta defends decision, insisting goalkeeper “deserved to play”

Jamie Carragher has criticised Mikel Arteta for selecting Kepa Arrizabalaga in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

Arteta chose to start Kepa, who had featured throughout the competition, but the decision came under scrutiny after the goalkeeper’s error contributed to City’s opening goal.

Kepa failed to deal with a cross from Rayan Cherki, allowing Nico O’Reilly to score the first of his two goals in a 2-0 win at Wembley.

Carragher questioned the decision to keep faith with a second-choice goalkeeper in such a high-stakes match.

“Mikel Arteta does not owe Kepa anything,” he said. “He owes Arsenal supporters the best possible chance of winning the first trophy in six years.”

Carragher added that while rotation may be understandable earlier in the competition, the final should have been treated differently.

“Once you get to the final, it has to change for me,” he said. “They haven’t won enough trophies and they need to get over the line.”

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp also criticised the decision, calling it a “monumental error.”

“Kepa is not as good as David Raya,” Redknapp said. “That’s why he is the No. 2. It has backfired big time.”

Arteta defended his selection after the match, insisting Kepa had earned his place.

“I would do it again,” Arteta said. “He deserved to play this game and has been phenomenal for us. Errors are part of football.”

Arsenal’s defeat extends their wait for silverware, with their last major trophy coming in 2020.