Mikel Arteta chose to protect Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Carabao Cup final, but the Arsenal goalkeeper made a blunder that led to the loss, but the overall performance was good
Mikel Arteta saw Arsenal’s trophy drought continue at Wembley
After Rayan Cherki’s cross and quad slipped through Kepa’s fingers, it would have been easy to blame Mikel Arteta, not to mention the unlucky keeper himself.
In a cup final on English football’s biggest stage, it’s usually a good idea to use your best players. Both managers used second-tier goalies, but Arteta’s decision backfired. Terrible. Arteta’s responsibility for this defeat cannot be hidden. Of course it’s not Kepa’s either.
But Arsenal did not lose. Because City’s breakthrough came from a goalkeeper’s mistake. Arsenal lost because they were unadventurous and uninspiring. It was as if they were making light of the way they had been unfairly stereotyped.
As an example, consider a moment very early in the second half. Probably no worse than the first moment. Kepa held the ball at the penalty spot and City’s players decided they would not contain him. And Kepa just stood there, doing nothing. for a long time. It was a hollow cameo that symbolized Arsenal’s attitude towards the game.
Aside from a brief spell in the first half and a late attack, they struggled to put together an attacking sequence. And if they don’t, their stalling tactics don’t look particularly appealing.
read more: Kepa Arrizabalaga’s full-time reaction speaks volumes after last-minute blunder costs Arsenalread more: Man City win Carabao Cup, Nico O’Reilly extends Arsenal’s trophy drought – 5 talking points
The amount of time it takes to complete a set piece in English club football is approaching extraordinary proportions. Arsenal are not the only culprit, but they are one of the biggest culprits. But if there’s one team that would be better off playing a disparate game against any team, it’s City. Because even this less grandiose version of the City can still be fascinating once it gets going.
That’s why the blame for the defeat shouldn’t just lie with the duo of Arteta and Kepa. Pep Guardiola’s side could have been more inventive, sharper and a little more diligent. There were risk-takers like Cherki and Jeremy Doku, but Arsenal had none.
Arsenal found it difficult to put pressure on Man City in the Carabao Cup final
Doc tried again and again to bring down his man. It’s hard to remember a time when an Arsenal player played against an opponent and won. Even after introducing an extra attacker, Arsenal did not trouble City. I have to stress that City were excellent in the second half. They were a throwback to some of Pep’s best teams.
There’s no shame in losing to a team that’s extremely talented and cost a lot of money to put together. And the awareness in the penalty area and the strength he showed in both goals made Nico O’Reilly an impressive match-winner.
However, it was the nature of Arsenal’s overall performance that could worry supporters. Of course, they are still in a good position in the Premier League, so even a loss to the Etihad in mid-April wouldn’t be too disastrous.
However, the look on Declan Rice’s face at the end of the one-sided match said it all. To be honest, Rice looks tired when he’s doing well, but in this moment he looked defeated. Both physically and mentally.
He’s the kind of player who can push forward again, who can deal with setbacks, who can lead from the front when he reacts to adversity. But it looks like he needs a break. This was not the end of the fanciful quadruple hopes, but a reminder that despite the great work they’ve done so far this season, the troubles are just beginning.
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