Kepa Arrizabalaga: Mikel Arteta's 'sentimental' goalkeeping decision that hurt Arsenal

Arsenal's Kepa Arrizabalaga made the costly error for Manchester City's opener There is no hiding place for a manager when decisions go against them and Mikel Arteta's choice to stick by cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will be one that haunts him. Arteta is known for his ruthlessness but, by opting to stick with cup goalkeeper Kepa for the Carabao Cup final, he showed a rare glimpse of his sentimental side - especially with Arsenal having not won a major trophy since 2020. Kepa's error - when he let Rayan Cherki's cross slip through his fingers - allowed Nico O'Reilly to head Manchester City into the lead. And Pep Guardiola's side never looked back as O'Reilly headed in again just four minutes later to seal the win. Arteta's decision to play Kepa over first choice David Raya was highlighted further because of the performance of City's own cup goalkeeper, James Trafford. Trafford was re-signed during the summer to be City's number one before Gianluigi Donnarumma became available and the club moved to sign him from Paris St-Germain, which meant Trafford became second choice. Trafford made an excellent triple save early in the game, when he denied Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka twice, t