Paul Merson tells Mikel Arteta to drop ‘world class’ Arsenal star for Man City final

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Arsenal legend Paul Merson has urged Mikel Arteta to stick with Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, even if it means benching ‘world class’ David Raya.

The Gunners face a crucial decision ahead of their first Wembley final since 2017, with Kepa having played every match in the cup run including the penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.

The Spanish goalkeeper joined Arsenal from Chelsea in the summer but has served as understudy to Raya throughout the Premier League campaign, where his compatriot has delivered another outstanding season.

Merson backs loyalty over star power

“Kepa has been first-choice in the Carabao Cup and I think they should stick with him,”

Merson told Sportskeeda.

“It’s only fair because he played well and got you to this stage.”

The former Arsenal midfielder, who was man of the match when the Gunners last won this competition in 1993, acknowledged Raya’s exceptional abilities but insisted principles should prevail.

“I must admit, Raya is world-class! The saves he made against Everton and Leverkusen, absolutely phenomenal. However, if I were the manager, I would still stick to my principles and choose Kepa as the keeper for the final.”

Raya has been instrumental in Arsenal’s impressive campaign, earning widespread praise from teammates and pundits alike. Declan Rice recently highlighted the goalkeeper’s training intensity and leadership qualities, while Thierry Henry suggested Raya should be in contention for player of the season.

Arsenal primed for quadruple push

The final presents Arsenal with the opportunity to end a six-year trophy drought and potentially begin an unprecedented quadruple challenge. The north London side currently leads the Premier League and remain in both the FA Cup and Champions League.

Merson remains optimistic about Arsenal’s chances against City, despite acknowledging the difficulty of the task ahead.

“If I had to pick a team, I would go Arsenal. However, that doesn’t mean it will be easy.”

The contest will pit two sides who haven’t met competitively in nearly three years, with Arsenal holding momentum from their unbeaten run against Pep Guardiola’s team during that period.

Arteta’s decision on his goalkeeper could prove pivotal in determining whether Arsenal can capture their first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup and maintain their remarkable campaign across all competitions.