Arsenal’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple went up in smoke after manager Mikel Arteta’s controversial decision to pick second-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for their Carabao Cup final against Manchester City backfired in a huge way.
The Gunners were bidding to become the first team ever to win the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League in the same season – with the club still in all four competitions heading into the final two months of the campaign.
But eyebrows were raised ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Man City when reserve keeper Kepa was selected ahead of regular number one David Raya.
And it proved to be the wrong move by Arsenal boss Arteta as Kepa failed to catch a routine cross which led to Man City’s opening goal.
Man City went on to win 2-0, with both goals coming from England international Nico O’Reilly.
Yet despite Kepa’s crucial mistake, Arteta defended his decision to start the Spanish shot-stopper.
He said: “I understand (criticism of the decision) that but I have to do what I feel is right.
“He (Kepa) has played all the competition and I think it would have been very unfair. They have to earn it. We are guided by what we have seen. I believe it is the right thing to do.
“Errors are part of football, and sadly today it happened in a crucial moment.”
Arsenal’s defeat to Man City means the club are still waiting on their first trophy since they lifted the FA Cup back in 2020.
They are in a strong position in the Premier League, nine points clear of Man City having played one game more.
The North London side are also in the Champions League and FA Cup quarter-finals where they will face Sporting Lisbon and Southampton.
On trying to recover from the Man City defeat, Arteta added: “We played 50 games before today? Every time we have a draw or a defeat, we have to prove it, we have to do it again.
“We have a recent history of how this team has responded in these moments. Well especially to have some perspective on it. We’re going to use it as fire in the belly.
“We’ll manage the energy in the right way. We’ll go through the pain and disappointment, it’s part of football.”
