Kepa Arrizabalaga: Mikel Arteta’s ’emotional’ goalkeeping decision hurt Arsenal

For Arteta, it never occurred to him not to face Kepa in the final.

The Arsenal coach said it would have been “very unfair” not to stick with the Spain international, who played all rounds of the cup competition before the final, and said he accepted the scrutiny he would face.

Arteta said: “I understand that, but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and fair.”

“And I think we have an understanding goalkeeper in Kepa – he has played in all competitions and I think it would have been very unfair for him and the team to do something different.”

The former Chelsea goalkeeper signed for the Gunners in the summer to compete with first-choice David Raya.

Raya has 15 clean sheets in the Premier League, the most in the division, and has made some outstanding saves this season as Arsenal look to end their wait for the trophy.

Arteta says that despite Kepa’s limited playing time this season, he is not guaranteed the goalkeeper will play in Arsenal’s cup matches.

“I can never promise a player to play in certain competitions, because in the end they have to deserve it and they have to do enough like any other position,” he said.

“We are guided by what we saw and what he did in the competition, and it has helped us move forward here.

“I think it’s the right thing to do and that’s it. Mistakes are part of football and today unfortunately it happened at a crucial moment.”

The UEFA Cup brings bad memories for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The goalkeeper has now lost all three finals he has played in the competition.

When he played for Chelsea in 2019, he refused to be substituted before the game went to penalties, and in 2022 he put his penalty over the bar as Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the shootout – and his error in that year’s final saw City take the lead.

“I wouldn’t have started Kepa today,” European football expert Julian Lorenz told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“In a final like this, at this moment in the Arsenal project, there is no moment for emotions. Your best team has to play. Kepa instead of David Raya, for me, was the wrong decision.

“I know it’s tough, but I think Arteta and his players will learn a lot from today because winning these finals is based on decisions made, not only on the field but at the end of the first half.”

Kepa was booked before conceding the first goal, when he misjudged a clearance and pulled winger Jeremy Doku back as he looked to score.

“Mikel Arteta shouldn’t have played with him,” Joe Hart, the former England and Manchester City goalkeeper, told BBC Sport.

“This is a decision made by a coach who is likely to win a lot this season. So he played Kepa because he believes he is ready.

“But I will always say it, never feel sorry for the goalkeeper. This is the life he chose.

“And again he was error-free for most of the match. But in that big moment it’s clear he’ll have something to think about.”