Jamie Carragher Slams Mikel Arteta Over Kepa Decision In Carabao Cup Final Loss

A Final Decision Under Fire

Big games demand big calls — but sometimes, those calls come back to haunt you.

Jamie Carragher has openly criticised Mikel Arteta following Arsenal FC’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final — and the spotlight is firmly on one decision.

Starting Kepa Arrizabalaga over David Raya.

Carragher Doesn’t Hold Back

Carragher didn’t sugarcoat it.

According to the former Liverpool defender, Arteta made a “significant mistake” by leaving out his first-choice goalkeeper in such a crucial match.

His argument is simple:
When trophies are on the line — especially for a team that hasn’t won one in a while — you go with your absolute best.

No experiments. No sentiments. Just results.

Arteta’s Justification

To be fair, Arteta had his reasons.

Kepa had been Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper throughout the campaign, playing a key role in getting them to the final. From a management perspective, rewarding consistency and loyalty makes sense.

But football is ruthless.

And finals? Even more so.

The Moment That Changed The Game

For over an hour, the game was still within reach.

Then came the turning point.

A dangerous ball from Rayan Cherki caused chaos in Arsenal’s box, and Kepa failed to deal with it convincingly.

The result? A simple finish for Nico O’Reilly — and suddenly, the game slipped away.

From that moment, Manchester City took control and never looked back.

Questions Arsenal Must Answer

This defeat isn’t just about losing a final.

It raises deeper questions:

• Should sentiment ever outweigh strength in finals?
• Did Arsenal overthink a straightforward decision?
• And most importantly — will this cost them confidence moving forward?

For a club chasing silverware, these are conversations that matter.

Final Whistle

Mikel Arteta backed his decision.
Jamie Carragher tore it apart.

The result? Arsenal walk away empty-handed.

In football, fine margins decide everything — and sometimes, one selection call is all it takes to change the story.

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