'I would do it again' - Arteta defends Kepa decision

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his decision to keep faith with Kepa Arrizabalaga, after the Spaniard’s mistake led to the first of O’Reilly’s two goals.

Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (left) and Gabriel at the final whistle after the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley. Pic: Ben Whitley/PA Wire. 

Pep Guardiola does not believe their Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal will give Manchester City an advantage in the title race.

City were the better team in winning 2-0 at Wembley but Guardiola said the nine-point gap the Gunners have over them in the Premier League remained an issue.

“I would love to have nine points in front, to be honest. It is in their hands,” he told Sky Sports.

“I need, personally, an incredible break. I’m exhausted and then after it is step by step.

“(Against) Nottingham (Forest) and West Ham, the dropped points there punished us a lot. But one game in hand, they come to our stadium with our people – we will try.” 

Matchwinner Nico O'Reilly was more bullish, suggesting the win can spark a title charge. 

"We definitely need to build on it. It’s a blow for them, we have a game in hand in the Premier League and we have to play them at our place. We will see how it goes after the international break, and try to kick on and go from here now.”

City took over the game in the second half after an even first period. Asked what changes Guardiola had made at half-time, O'Reilly added: ”I think it was more tactical. We had a few tweaks and changes in that sense and it worked. We found the spaces and hit them with it."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his decision to keep faith with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has played in the League Cup this season, after the Spaniard’s mistake led to the first of O’Reilly’s two goals.

The Spaniard had played in previous rounds, but former Gunners striker Ian Wright said it was a gamble which did not pay off after he flapped Rayan Cherki’s cross into the path of O’Reilly, who headed in the first of his two goals.

“The gamble didn’t pay out. It was the mistake that made you say, ‘That’s a number two’,” Wright told Sky Sports.

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp was even more critical and said Arteta had to take responsibility.

“Kepa is not as good as (David) Raya, that’s why he is number two,” he said.

“Why in a major cup final when you are trying to get across the line and haven’t won a trophy in so long do you decide to play him?

“You have to take responsibility for that, that is a monumental error. He is not a bad goalkeeper, but he’s not as good as Raya. That has backfired big time.” 

Fellow pundit Michah Richards added: “We are talking about it because that is why Arsenal lost the game.”

Guardiola also picked his number two goalkeeper James Trafford and Arteta was adamant he would make the same decision again. 

“I made a decision before the game based on what he has done all season, the fact he has played in the competition and helped us be where we are today,” the Gunners boss told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It would have been very unfair to choose a different one.” 

Arteta added on Sky Sports: “I would do it again because he deserves to play this game. He has been phenomenal for us. Errors are part of football and anyone can make them.”