Carragher Labels Kepa ‘Not Good Enough’ as Arteta Defends Controversial Carabao Cup Final Selection

Jamie Carragher blasts Mikel Arteta for starting Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Carabao Cup final. Discover why the pundit thinks the move cost Arsenal the trophy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 4:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Football365

Goalkeeping ‘Shocker’ Costs Arsenal in Wembley Showpiece

Arsenal’s pursuit of a first major trophy in six years ended in heartbreak at Wembley, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga at the center of a brewing tactical controversy. Entrusted with a start by Mikel Arteta after playing throughout the earlier rounds, the Spaniard committed a decisive error that allowed Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly to open the scoring. Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, described the mistake as an "absolute shocker," noting that the lapse was reminiscent of Kepa’s previous struggles in high-stakes finals during his tenure at Chelsea.

Carragher Challenges Arteta’s Loyalty to Second-Choice Keeper

The decision to start Kepa over Premier League first-choice David Raya has drawn significant scrutiny from media and fans alike. Carragher argued that while giving a backup goalkeeper a final is a common gesture of "owing" a player, Arteta’s primary debt is to the Arsenal supporters who have waited nearly a decade for consistent silverware. According to the pundit, the gap in quality between Raya—arguably one of Arsenal’s top performers this season alongside Declan Rice—and Kepa was too wide to ignore for a match of this magnitude, particularly for a squad that "needs to get over the line."

Comparative Pressures Between City and Arsenal Hubs

The debate intensified as Carragher compared Arsenal’s situation to that of their opponents. Manchester City, who have won four Carabao Cups in recent years, operated under significantly less pressure at Wembley. Carragher noted that Pep Guardiola's decision to start James Trafford was a different dynamic entirely, as Trafford was initially signed to be a No. 1 before City brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma. He suggested that Arsenal’s lack of a "history of winning" with their current core meant they could not afford the "chink in the armor" provided by a second-choice goalkeeper.