ARSENAL’S quadruple charge is over, and it was familiar foe Manchester City that dealt them the killer blow.
Mikel Arteta‘s side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Wembley after Kepa Arrizabalaga‘s errors changes the entire dynamic of the game.
The Gunners had started brightly, but the second half was a different story after Kepa’s shaky moment tipped the scales in City’s favour and saw him collapse in the process.
The Spaniard gifted City their first goal when he flapped at a looping cross and watched the ball go throgh his hands and land on the head of Nico O’Reilly.
And it was O’Reilly who netted the second, too. Another header – this time from a Matheus Nunes cross.
Here’s how SunSport Arsenal Reporter Joshua Hall rated each individual performance…
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA – 2
Mikel Arteta stuck by his guns by deciding to start Kepa over David Raya for this final.
Kepa had earned the start by playing in every Carabao Cup game up until this point, but sometimes you just need to play your best players.
The former Chelsea man was very lucky to not concede when he completely misread a ball over the top and found himself scrambling back to foul Antoine Semenyo in order to stop the winger prodding the ball into an open net.
Then it was his calamitous mistake that led to City’s first goal.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
The Spaniard flapped at a cross and let it go straight through his hands to gift Nico O’Reilly a free header at the back post.
Kepa’s mistakes changed the momentum of this game, and ultimately cost Arsenal the trophy.
BEN WHITE – 6
White hasn’t played much at all this season, but was thrown into action here in the absence of Jurrien Timber.
It’s not an easy task, defending against Jeremy Doku, but White dealt with the City winger pretty well for the most part.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Absolutely relishes a physical battle and it doesn’t get much harder than facing Erling Haaland.
The Frenchman used his strength and aggression so well, while still remaining calm and collected when it mattered most.
He was the coolest head in the stadium when he poked the ball away from Haaland in a one-on-one situation during a period of City dominance in the second half.
Unfortunately, other members of the Arsenal side lost their heads when it mattered most.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 6
Played a lazy pass out from the back to gift Man City a dangerous opportunity, but immediately atoned for his mistake with a superb block inside the box.
The Brazilian didn’t do much wrong and helped to keep Haaland quiet, but he wasn’t quite at his usual high standard.
PIERO HINCAPIE – 4
Picked up a silly yellow card in the first half that meant he spent most of the game having to tone down his usual aggression.
Perhaps that was why Antione Semenyo was able to skip past him with relative ease a few times.
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 5
Made a few important tackles when City were trying to catch Arsenal on the break.
But he doesn’t seem to have that attacking spark that he offered Arsenal earlier in the campaign.
He can often feel like a passenger in this Arsenal midfield.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Sometimes I wonder whether Arsenal bought two Declan Rice‘s for £105m in 2024, because the midfielder is everywhere.
Arsenal are carrying the ball forward? There’s Rice.
Arsenal need a last-ditch tackle? There’s Rice.
Turns out you need more than just one player to show up like that in a final to win it, though.
KAI HAVERTZ – 5
Eberechi Eze‘s injury meant that Havertz was given a spot in midfield from the off in a huge game.
He couldn’t finish off a brilliant opportunity to put Arsenal 1-0 up inside seven minutes, hitting his shot straight at James Trafford.
Havertz looked like a player short of game time and was ultimately taken off by Arteta.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
Nobody really impressed in the Arsenal front-line, but Trossard was largely anonymous.
The Belgian was also partially at fault for City’s second goal, letting Matheus Nunes skip away from him far too easily inside the box.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Believe it or not, this was Bukayo Saka‘s first ever start in a major final for Arsenal.
Unfortunately for him, it didn’t go how he would have liked.
Saka was sharp in the first 20 minutes, constantly trying to cause trouble by cutting in on his left foot.
But, like the rest of the Arsenal attack, he was nowhere to be seen in the second half.
VIKTOR GYOKERES – 5
A lot of people thought that Viktor Gyokeres might not start this game, but Eze’s injury meant he was trusted up top with Havertz behind him in midfield.
His touch let him down when he was played in for a one-on-one in the latter stages of the first half, like it has so many times this season.
When his teammates aren’t getting him involved in the game, you can often forget he is on the pitch.
SUBSTITUTES
NONI MADUEKE (for Havertz, 65mins) – 6
Lively on the ball and looking to make things happen.
Unfortunately, the game was over by the time he came on.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI (for Hincapie, 65mins) – 6
Fizzed a brilliant effort across the face of Trafford’s goal and looked like he wanted to make things happen when he came on for Hincapie.
