Mikel Arteta is receiving criticism in England for his decision to bet on Kepa Arrizabalagaas starting goalkeeper in the Carabao Cup that heArsenal ended up losing 2-0 against Manchester City by Pep Guardiola.
I’m not saying that Kepa Arrizabalaga is a bad goalkeeper, but he is not as good as Raya and the decision was a big mistake.
The Spanish goalkeeper, who was starter in place of David Rayacommitted a error in Nico O’Reilly’s first goal a Wembley.
Harsh criticism in England of Mikel Arteta for fielding Kepa instead of Raya in the Carabao Cup Final
Jamie Redknappformerly of Livepool, suggested on ‘Sky SPorts’ that it was a mistake to field Kepa Arrizabalaga and that Mikel Arteta should take responsibility.
Kepa is not as good as Raya, that’s why he is the second goalkeeper. You have to take responsibility; it’s a huge mistake
“I know people will say it’s sentimentality because he’s played in the previous rounds, but Kepa is not as good as Raya, that’s why he’s the second goalkeeper. So why in a major final, when you’re fighting for the title and haven’t won a trophy for so long, do you decide to field him? You have to take responsibility; it’s a huge mistake,” Redknapp said.
This is how City celebrated the Carabao Cup
The former footballer insisted that “I’m not saying that Kepa Arrizabalaga is a bad goalkeeper, but he is not as good as Raya and the decision has been a big mistake.”
Micah Richardsformerly of Manchester City, confirmed that “the difference between Raya and Kepa is enormous, so in an important match you think: ‘We have to choose Raya’. Look, we can talk about it later, but in the end we talked about it because it cost Arsenal the game.”
I made the decision to start Kepa before the game based on his performance throughout the season. It would have been very unfair to choose another player
The ex-footballer Gary Neville He commented on ‘Sky Sports’ that “they were pressing and the City fans could smell the blood behind that (Arsenal) goal.”
“It’s a blunder by the goalkeeper (Kepa Arrizabalaga), a blunder at a crucial moment, but it was blow after blow and O’Reilly took advantage of the opportunity,” said the former Manchester United man.
Mikel Arteta: “I have to do what I think is right, what is honest and fair, and I think we understand each other with Kepa”
Mikel Arteta argued that Kepa Arrizabalaga had earned the chance to start at Wembley after having played in all the previous Carabao Cup matches.
The Spanish coach shared that “mistakes are part of football, and today, unfortunately, it happened at a crucial moment” and said that it would have been “very unfair” for Raya to have started against City.
Mikel Arteta defends himself against harsh criticism for betting on Kepa: “He has to take responsibility; it is a huge mistake”
“I made the decision that Kepa would start before the game based on his performance throughout the season. The fact that he has played in the competition and has helped us get to where we are today. It would have been very unfair to choose another player,” he noted.
Mike Arteta stressed that “I have to do what I think is right, what is honest and fair, and I think we understand each other with Kepa.”
“He has played the entire competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do something different… We are guided by what we have seen and what he has done, what he has done in the competition, and it helped us get here. I think it is the right thing to do, period,” he explained.
