Since we're talking about that Carabao Cup final heartbreak, let's look at it critically, especially with the spotlight firmly on Kepa Arrizabalaga. My timelines have been wild since Sunday's clash against Manchester City, and for good reason.
Mikel Arteta made a huge call, a gamble many of us questioned even before kickoff: starting Kepa over David Raya, his established first-choice keeper. Arteta defended it, saying Kepa "deserved to play this game and has been phenomenal for us" and that "errors are part of football." Respect for backing your player, but in a final, when you're hunting your first major trophy since 2020, pragmatism usually trumps sentiment, no?
Now, about the incident itself. The ball from Cherki, a seemingly routine cross, slipped through Kepa's fingers, leading directly to Nico O'Reilly's opening goal. You see the replay, and it's a fundamental error. It put Arsenal on the back foot, and they never truly recovered, conceding another goal just four minutes later.
This isn't Kepa's first rodeo in a League Cup final, and that's where the receipts get really damning. Remember 2019 with Chelsea, when he famously refused to be substituted before a penalty shootout? Or the 2022 final, also with Chelsea, where he missed a penalty in the shootout? It feels like this competition and major finals, in general, have a way of finding Kepa. For a player who joined Arsenal in July 2025 for about €5.8 million, largely as a cup keeper, these moments define his legacy at the club.
He's clearly the No. 2 behind Raya, playing mostly in cup competitions this season. With his market value reportedly declining to €7m in March 2026 from €10m in September 2025, and rumors already linking him with a move to Como, you have to wonder about his long-term future at Arsenal. Is this blunder the final nail, or can he bounce back from yet another high-profile error? The discussion is open, and it's a critical one for Arsenal's ambitions.