Kepa Arrizabalaga just turned one David Raya decision into a no-brainer

Whatever the outcome, Mikel Arteta's choice of goalkeeper in Sunday's Carabao Cup Final was going to be a major talking point. As it turned out, this was rightfully so. The Gunners put in their most lifeless and lacklustre performance of the campaign at the worst possible time, comprehensively beaten 2-0 by Manchester City at Wembley, a result that was not the fault of any one individual.

Nevertheless, despite the majority of the fanbase wanting to see David Raya get the nod, Kepa Arrizabalaga kept his place and did not impress. The cup keeper was very lucky not to be sent off shortly after half-time following a tussle with Jérémy Doku outside his penalty area. Ten minutes later, he dropped an absolute clanger to allow Nico O'Reilly to nod home the all-important opening goal.

Once again in a Carabao Cup Final, Kepa had main character energy. In the 2019 final, also against Man City, the Spaniard famously refused to be substituted, with Maurizio Sarri wanting to introduce Willy Caballero ahead of penalties, a shootout Chelsea would lose. Three years later, this time against Liverpool, after the first 21 spot-kicks were all converted, Kepa failing to save 11 in a row, he then skied his own attempt high into the London night sky, once again in the spotlight.

Well, Sunday was Kepa's third appearance in an EFL Cup Final, collecting a runners-up medal in the Royal Box each time, which equals the competition record.

Most League Cup Final appearances without winning

Sunday was the 66th League Cup Final and, in the history of the competition, only three players have appeared in three finals but never won one. Surprisingly, this list includes Roy Keane, who was beaten by Manchester United while at Nottingham Forest in '92. After joining Sir Alex Ferguson's side, the Red Devils were defeated by Aston Villa in '94 and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium nine years later. They then won the competition for the first time since '92 against Wigan in February 2006, just 40 days after the Irishman had been shipped off to Celtic.

The other perenial runner-up is the late Les Sealey. He was not on the bench in 1988 when Luton beat Arsenal, only two substitutes allowed in those days, but was between the posts as the Hatters were defeated by Forest 12 months later. Sealey also suffered defeat as Man United's goalkeepers in 1991 against Sheffield Wednesday and then three years later, alongside Keane. He tragically died of a heart attack at the age of 43 in 2001.

Back to Kepa, he is also a three-time FA Cup runner-up, with Chelsea losing three successive finals between 2020 and 2022. The Blues though did have three different goalkeepers for these three finals, with Kepa donning the gloves against Leicester in 2021, while Caballero and Édouard Mendy did so for the others.

Paul Bracewell holds the record for most FA Cup Final appearances without winning one, a runner-up on four occasions in '85, '86, '89 and '92, a record that is safe for now.

In short though, Kepa's cup final record is miserable while, more importantly, he simply is not as good as his compatriot, both when it comes to saving shots but also in possession. Arrizabalaga is widely-expected to start Arsenal's next match after the international break, an FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton at St Mary's.

Should the Gunners progress, they'll likely be facing one of Manchester City, Chelsea or Liverpool at Wembley in the semis. If Arteta is serious about ending the trophy drought, he can't make the same mistake twice, this time needing to be ruthless and reinstate Raya.