Arsenal's Carabao Cup final ended in disappointment as they lost 2-0 to Manchester City. The Gunners' second-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga started ahead of David Raya, but his inclusion backfired as he failed to take Rayan Cherki's cross, deflecting it straight into the path of Nico O'Reilly for City's opener.

What happened?

Mikel Arteta defended his decision to start Kepa, saying it was "right, honest and fair". However, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp criticized the move, with Redknapp saying it "backfired big time".

Why it matters for Arsenal

The defeat means Arsenal have not won a trophy in six years. The Gunners had been hoping to end their trophy drought, but Kepa's mistake proved costly.

What comes next?

Arsenal will look to bounce back from the defeat as they focus on their Premier League campaign. The Gunners are currently | Position | Points |, with their next match against | Opponent | on | Date |. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Score | 2-0 | | Date | Monday 23 March 2026 | | Competition | Carabao Cup final |

Player reaction

David Raya is arguably Arsenal's best player this season, and his omission from the starting lineup raised eyebrows. Kepa, on the other hand, has struggled to impress since joining the Gunners. The defeat will be a tough pill to swallow for Arsenal fans, who had been hoping to see their team lift the Carabao Cup trophy. As for Manchester City, the win marks their fourth Carabao Cup title in recent years. The Citizens will look to build on their success as they chase more silverware.