Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has defended Kepa Arrizabalaga following Arsenal’s defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. He insisted the loss cannot be blamed on one player.

Although Kepa made an error that led to the opening goal, Sagna said the mistake was not the main reason Arsenal lost the match. He believes the team’s overall performance played a bigger role.

Sagna pointed out that Arsenal struggled in the second half, sitting back too much and allowing Manchester City to dominate the game and apply pressure.

He also highlighted an early missed chance by Kai Havertz, saying it could have changed the outcome if converted. According to him, that moment was crucial.

Manager Mikel Arteta had earlier been criticised for starting Kepa ahead of David Raya, but Sagna backed the decision, noting that Kepa had been consistent throughout the competition.

In the end, Sagna concluded that Arsenal must improve their attacking approach and avoid playing too defensively if they want to succeed in big matches.