Kepa has started every one of Arsenal’s domestic cup matches so far this season. David Price / Getty Images
Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to keep his place in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup team for Sunday’s final against Manchester City.
Kepa is Arsenal’s No 2 goalkeeper and usually acts as understudy to fellow Spaniard David Raya in the Premier League and Champions League.
But the former Chelsea man, who remains the most expensive goalkeeper in history, has played in every round of the Carabao Cup so far, and sources with knowledge of the club’s plans, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said head coach Mikel Arteta has decided to keep the faith with the 31-year-old for the showpiece at Wembley.
Arteta confirmed on Friday that he had decided who would play in goal against City but declined to say publicly.
As well as five appearances in the Carabao Cup, Kepa has started all three of Arsenal’s FA Cup ties to date, and played once in the Champions League this term – in the dead-rubber against Kairat Almaty in late January.
Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City head coach, has already revealed that his own domestic cup goalkeeper, No 2 James Trafford, will start the match ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Carabao Cup is, on paper, the least prestigious of the four trophies Arsenal are chasing this season but it nonetheless feels hugely significant, as Arteta aims to win a first piece of silverware with the club since the 2020 FA Cup – which was achieved with an almost entirely different squad.
The result could also be significant psychologically, as City – who have won the League Cup four times under Guardiola – look to chase down Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
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