{"id":1498,"date":"2026-04-10T11:57:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T11:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1498"},"modified":"2026-04-10T11:57:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T11:57:06","slug":"honourable-decision-may-have-cost-arsenal-two-trophies-it-cant-happen-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1498","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Honourable&#8217; decision may have cost Arsenal two trophies &#8211; it can&#8217;t happen again"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_b6bb55\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal missed the first chance to end their trophy drought when they were beaten by Man City in the Carabao Cup final, before being dumped out of the FA Cup in the next game<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36982170\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"  David Raya of Arsenal celebrates \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"David Raya was named player of the match\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">David Raya was named player of the match<cite aria-label=\"Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The goalkeeping dilemma has surely now been put to bed for Arsenal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta has to look back on the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup exit at Southampton and wonder why on earth he did not pick his first choice keeper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">David Raya is making a strong case for being one of the best &#8211; Arsenal fans might argue the best &#8211; keepers in the world. Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alisson Becker may all have something to say about that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Raya has 22 clean sheets across all competitions this season which is the most of any keeper in Europe\u2019s top five leagues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And yet for two of Arsenal\u2019s biggest games of the season, Arteta picked his No2 Kepa Arrizabalaga. It was all very honourable, a reward for being back-up keeper.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_020eaf\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres savaged by Portuguese media on return to old stomping ground<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<article class=\"Teaser_teaser__XImzE OpinionTeaser_teaser-opinion__u0ZfS\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36983628\">\n<div class=\"Teaser_cover-wrapper__VVV7O\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser-image\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s540\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg 540w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg 650w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s948\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg 948w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><label data-testid=\"label\" class=\"Label_label__pFaDj Label_secondary__nOPjT label--section-color\"><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Label_text__tRLWj\">OPINION<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"OpinionTeaser_content-wrapper__TVVPL OpinionTeaser_large__m6_Lk\">\n<div data-testid=\"teaser-author\" class=\"TeaserAuthor_author__h_bIR TeaserAuthor_large__QjYde\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article2206564.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/john_cross.png\" alt=\"Author avatar\"\/><span class=\"TeaserAuthor_author-name__YmKL2\">John Cross<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But it was Kepa\u2019s mistake which handed Manchester City the initiative and ultimately the Carabao Cup at Wembley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That changed the mood at Arsenal and cost them a trophy. Kepa was by no means to blame for Arsenal\u2019s defeat at Southampton. There were bigger culprits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But would Raya have been better? Yes. When you look at Arsenal\u2019s performance at Sporting Lisbon and the three top saves he made plus also the reassurance he gives his defenders, then he is a game-changer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Raya\u2019s distribution and unfortunately City targeted Kepa and just let him have the ball because they knew he might make a mistake or misplace a pass.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36906795\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36906795\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.55\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kepa's remarkable error meant that Arsenal effectively handed Manchester City the trophy\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36906795.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2267855769.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36906795.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2267855769.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36906795.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2267855769.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36906795.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2267855769.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Kepa's blunder handed Manchester City all the initiative at Wembley\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Kepa&#8217;s blunder handed Manchester City all the initiative at Wembley<cite aria-label=\"Image: 2026 Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: 2026 Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It is crazy not to play your best players. On the morning of the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal legend Lee Dixon was on 5Live recalling stories of how different keepers would play though the rounds of the FA Cup but David Seaman was always back in goal for the final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It was most noticeable in 2002. Arsenal won the Double that year. Richard Wright and Stuart Taylor played and, in fairness, Seaman was out injured for a while.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wright played in the semi-final but Seaman was back and playing in the Premier League by then. Seaman was back for the final and Arsenal won. They won the final the following year too and Seaman was in goal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It is all well and good to be honourable. In later years, Arsene Wenger upset Petr Cech by playing David Ospina in the Champions League. That was bonkers.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36970246\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36970246\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36970246.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_JS402071927.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36970246.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_JS402071927.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36970246.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS402071927.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36970246.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_JS402071927.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ross Stewart scores past Kepa in Southampton's FA Cup clash with Arsenal.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ross Stewart scores past Kepa in Southampton&#8217;s FA Cup clash with Arsenal.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">WORLD CUP LEGENDS: <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/world-cup-legends-5666-p.asp\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">The stars who lit up football\u2019s greatest tournament &#8211; Buy the Special Edition today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wenger also did the same in the FA Cup. In 2015, Wojciech Szczesny was dropped for smoking in the showers. Ospina was made No1. But come the cup final, Szczesny was back in when Arsenal beat Aston Villa 4-0.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But there is a difference. There was not such a gap. Szczesny was the better keeper. But the difference was not as big as Raya and Kepa. No chance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Surely this will be a lesson for the future. Play your best players. All the other first choice players played against City. So why not drop one of your most important and change the keeper?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Those decisions cost Arsenal one trophy and possibly another. Now, Arsenal stand a much better chance of winning the other two with Raya in goal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em><\/a>  and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<aside class=\"Factbox_factbox-container__hSMOa\" id=\"factbox\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Entering Factbox content\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36978837\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"factbox\" data-testid=\"factbox\">\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs Factbox_heading-three__NXU52 __className_e65c2b\">FREE \u00a33 William Hill Shop Bets inside your Mirror every day of the Grand National Festival<\/h3>\n<div class=\"Factbox_content__xdMV8\">\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36978796\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36978796\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.9\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Don&#8217;t miss a FREE shop bet inside your favourite racing paper every day of the Grand National festival! 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See paper for details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal missed the first chance to end their trophy drought when they were beaten by<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}