Merson Arsenal Kepa Carabao Cup final as Paul Merson urges Arteta to start Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of David Raya vs Man City

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson on Thursday, March 20, 2026, in London, England, urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to start goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of David Raya in the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in remarks centred on the key selection debate ahead of the high-profile clash and the growing Merson Arsenal Kepa Carabao Cup final discussion.

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Merson argued that Kepa Arrizabalaga, aged 31, has been the goalkeeper who featured throughout Arsenal’s Carabao Cup campaign and played a decisive role in helping the club reach the final, making a strong case for continuity in the starting lineup.

He insisted that it would be unfair to drop the Spaniard at the final stage of the competition after contributing significantly to the team’s progress.

“Kepa has been first-choice in the Carabao Cup, and they should stick with him. It is only fair because he played well and took them to this stage,” Merson said.

“He has not let the team down in this competition and deserves to start.”

The former England international further stated that Arsenal must make a difficult decision between Kepa Arrizabalaga and David Raya, but stressed that consistency should be prioritised for such a crucial fixture.

The Carabao Cup final, scheduled for Sunday at Wembley Stadium, will see Arsenal face reigning champions Manchester City in what is expected to be a tightly contested encounter.

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Manager Mikel Arteta is yet to publicly confirm his starting goalkeeper for the final, with both options available and in contention depending on tactical considerations.

The debate over the goalkeeping position has continued to generate discussion among fans and analysts as Arsenal prepare for one of their most important fixtures of the season.