Wayne Rooney believes that Mikel Arteta was right to pick Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of David Raya in the Carabao Cup final for Arsenal.
The goalkeeper situation at Arsenal has caused a raging debate following Kepa’s howler for Nico O’Reilly’s opening goal for City.
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The Spanish goalkeeper spilt the ball and allowed the young City defender to nod the ball home from close range into an empty net.
But despite much outrage that Arteta fielded Kepa, Rooney has backed Arteta’s call to start the former Chelsea man over Raya.
Wayne Rooney respects Mikel Arteta’s loyalty to Kepa Arrizabalaga
Wayne Rooney understands why Mikel Arteta showed his loyalty to Kepa Arrizabalaga by starting him in the Carabao Cup final.
The 31-year-old has started every game in the competition to help the Gunners reach the final, and the manager backed him to start at Wembley.
When asked whether Arteta got it wrong to start Kepa, Rooney told BBC Sport: “Yes and no. I think because there’s a big gap between Raya and Kepa in quality, but then you’ve got to respect the loyalty.
“There has been an opportunity for some of the fringe players, if you like, to get minutes. I’ve been there on both sides of that.
“I’ve come into a League Cup at the final stage, and you feel bad for your teammate who’s got you there. I got left out of a FA Cup semi-final against Everton because we had a Champions League game.
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“So the right decision is to play your best team, I think, because you’ve got to show that to your fans, um and show the respect to the cup.
“But Mikel Arteta, as many managers have, has shown loyalty to the players who haven’t played that much and the players who’ve got them to the final.”
Arteta cannot afford to make the same mistake in any other finals moving forward, despite showing a willingness to back his fringe players.
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