Mikel Arteta<\/strong> is receiving criticism in England for his decision to bet on Kepa Arrizabalaga<\/strong>as starting goalkeeper in the Carabao Cup<\/strong> that heArsenal ended up losing 2-0 against Manchester City<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Jamie Redknapp<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Spanish goalkeeper, who was starter in place of David Raya<\/strong>committed a error in Nico O’Reilly’s first goal<\/strong> a Wembley.<\/p>\n Jamie Redknapp<\/strong>formerly of Livepool, suggested on ‘Sky SPorts’ that it was a mistake to field Kepa Arrizabalaga and that Mikel Arteta should take responsibility.<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Jamie Redknapp<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n “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.<\/p>\n This is how City celebrated the Carabao Cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 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.”<\/p>\n Micah Richards<\/strong>formerly 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.”<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The ex-footballer Gary Neville<\/strong> He commented on ‘Sky Sports’ that “they were pressing and the City fans could smell the blood behind that (Arsenal) goal.”<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta argued that Kepa Arrizabalaga had earned the chance to start at Wembley after having played in all the previous Carabao Cup matches.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta defends himself against harsh criticism for betting on Kepa: “He has to take responsibility; it is a huge mistake”<\/span>\n
Harsh criticism in England of Mikel Arteta for fielding Kepa instead of Raya in the Carabao Cup Final<\/h2>\n
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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”<\/h2>\n
![\"Mikel](\"https:\/\/objetos-xlk.estaticos-marca.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/23\/69c0fa046d2aa.jpeg\"\/)
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