Mikel Arteta’s decision to go with Kepa over David Raya against Man City is the big talking point from the weekend but Ray Parlour has actually defended the Arsenal boss.
Kepa made a big error for the opening goal to allow City to take the lead and they never looked back before making it 2-0.
Since then, Arteta has come under fire for not playing Raya but according to former midfielder Parlour, the Gunners boss made the right call.
After watching the Carabao Cup final, which Arsenal players do you think need upgrading?
Ray Parlour on why mistake from Kepa shouldn’t define Arsenal’s season
It was a bad error from Kepa. Nobody is denying that part and when he looks back, he’ll know he should have done better.
However, speaking about the incident with Ally McCoist, Ray Parlour believes that it’s only because of the error that there is any conversation at all.
“A mistake from the goalkeeper Kepa for the first goal. It was a game that could have gone either way but I just thought Man City had that bit extra,” Parlour said on TalkSPORT.
“Unless you say to the keeper you’re going to be playing most of the games, but the final I might have to put my best keeper in. But, Guardiola did exactly the same and Trafford had a great game. If Trafford makes a mistake then it’s the same thing.
“They’re into the final because he’s played every game and he’s not really made mistakes. I know there’s a trophy at stake. And would it upset the dressing room a bit? But we are talking about this because he made a mistake. If he doesn’t and Trafford makes one we don’t say anything.
“I know Raya’s an important player but Arteta has made that decision. I just thought the whole second half performance, not just the goalkeeper, wasn’t good enough.”
Kepa’s overall record as Arsenal goalkeeper
Kepa was signed as a number two and he very much knows that, which is why his role at Arsenal has been limited.
However, his actual record when playing isn’t all bad.
Obviously, he’s helped the Gunners to the final this year and in the 10 appearances he’s made, he’s actually kept four clean sheets.
The worrying stat among that is that within those 10 games he has also conceded nine goals, while there is an obvious difference between Kepa and Raya in terms of distribution, as we saw at Wembley.
Nevertheless, finding a top number two is hard. Arsenal will do well to find better and we must remember that Man City actually bought James Trafford to be number one, before Pep decided he wasn’t right and went for Donnarumma instead.
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