Mikel Arteta insisted that he would make the same decision again to start Kepa Arrizabalaga for the 2026 Carabao Cup final despite losing the showpiece fixture at Wembley Stadium against Manchester City thanks to a blunder from his stand-in.
Arrizabalaga is Arsenal’s clear No. 2 behind David Raya and underscored that status with the defining moment of Sunday’s final. After a goalless opening hour the Basque shot-stopper tried (and failed) to catch Rayan Cherki’s chipped cross from the byline, befuddled by the rising ball which dropped for Nico O’Reilly to head City in front.
