Arsenal fans have piled on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after his mistake cost them in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. The Gunners suffered a 2-0 defeat at Wembley as they missed out on what would have been a first piece of silverware in six years.
Mikel Arteta‘s side were firm favourites coming into the final, having seen off Chelsea in the semifinals. Their opponents, Manchester City, were on the back of a three-game run without a win, and had been dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in mid-week.
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Arteta made the bold decision to name second-choice goalkeeper Kepa in the XI for the final, rewarding the Spaniard for his performances in cup competitions. The manager’s gamble backfired spectacularly as Kepa’s error handed Manchester City the opener, giving them a platform from which they won the game.
Kepa, of previous Wembley infamy from his days at Chelsea, has drawn the ire of the Arsenal faithful, who blame him for the final defeat. A number of the fans have taken to X to air their opinions on the Spain international.
One fan dramatically stated that the goalkeeper had ‘finished’ them.
Another fan blamed Arteta for starting Kepa in such a crucial game without applying context.
A fan was left feeling exasperated by the goalkeeper’s showing and asked if he was stupid.
Another fan was in disbelief as they stated that Kepa is cursed at Wembley.
A fan put the blame on Arteta for Kepa costing the team.
Another fan asked if the goalkeeper wanted them to kill themselves.
A fan was left feeling frustrated with the goalkeeper..
Another fan clearly blamed Kepa for the final defeat.
Kepa endured a disappointing outing in which he picked up a yellow card for a foul on Jeremy Doku after he misjudged the flight of the ball. The 31-year-old then gifted Nico O’Reilly the opener after a period of sustained Manchester City pressure by failing to catch a simple cross. He failed to make a single save in the game as his side succumbed to a disappointing defeat at Wembley.
Kepa howler hands Manchester City Carabao Cup win over Arsenal
Kepa Arrizabalaga was the main culprit as Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 to win the 2025-26 Carabao Cup. The Gunners failed to end their six-year trophy drought as Pep Guardiola‘s side outclassed them at Wembley.
The Cityzens weathered an early storm from Arsenal, with goalkeeper James Trafford making an excellent triple save in the opening stages of the encounter. They raised the tempo after the opening period and took control of the encounter in the latter stages of the first half.
Manchester City were rewarded for their probing in the 60th minute, when a Rayan Cherki cross somehow passed between the gloves of Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Arsenal goal, allowing Nico O’Reilly to score a stooping header. Four minutes later, the 21-year-old popped up from left-hand again to head home his second of the evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side struck the woodwork twice in the closing stages but ultimately failed to muster an appropriate response. Guardiola became the first manager to win the Carabao Cup on five different occasions, adding to his legacy in English football.
Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen