₦airaland Forum

WhiteIverson:
Winning a final is not by who is in form. It's by experience. You need to be extraordinary to win a final using form over a team with experience. Unfortunately there's nothing extraordinary about Arsenal. All they are bragging about this season has been achieved by various other teams in previous seasons.

Arsenal has been handed a reality check

Sccarrr:
Lmao....na the people wey no get anything den dey play for own funny pass.... woman united, Chelshit, looserpool fans jubilating like they won something 😂😂

tnerro1:
No be kepa dey pay him salary oooo, if he wants a trophy, he needs to make the hard decisions, na final be this, bench kepa and use raya, na him need the trophy pass. Havertz has always performed when coming from the bench in the second half, why change that in a final?

Sccarrr:
There is absolutely no point in blaming anyone or moaning, there are much more bigger things still lined up nicely for Arsenal, we move on to the next 🔥

ajalawole:
normal of arsenal fans with bully. They don't use bulling to win the league, they work hard for it. City has been poor in the league, but you guys are no were near city standard at all.

osazsky:
Iall of una dey shout kepa up and down what of garrikores who did not touch the ball up to 6 times and Na him be top 9

ZombieDredd:
Ok so, is city near Madrid standard?

Now arsenal beat Madrid silly, so is Madrid near arsenal standard?

But because arsenal lost in a cup final, suddenly they are not city standard?

Anyway when we lift the league, will you say arsenal standard is above city?

What's your opinion?

press9jatv:
🔴⚪ We Lost. And I'm Not Pretending Otherwise.

Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City. Carabao Cup Final. Wembley.

Let me be real with you today because the emotional posts can wait. The "we'll be back" posts can wait. Right now we need to talk about what actually happened.

Arteta cost us this game.

I'll say it clearly and without apology. You do not go into a Wembley cup final against Manchester City with a weakened XI because of sentiment. You do not start Kepa Arrizabalaga in the biggest game of the season because fans fell in love with the story of him being the "cup goalkeeper." Football doesn't care about stories. Football cares about quality. And on the night, we paid the price.

Two goals. Both from Kepa mistakes. Both gifted directly to Nico O'Reilly like free presents on Christmas morning. That is not bad luck. That is a selection error that Arteta has to own completely.

Gyökeres. Mehn. I've been saying it for months and tonight confirmed everything. The big moments come and he disappears. Wembley. Cup final. Man City. This is exactly the stage where you find out who a player really is — and we found out.

Kai Havertz missed a sitter that could have changed the entire match. Could have had us 1-0 up. Could have flipped the pressure. Instead it stayed 0-0, City grew in confidence, and Kepa handed them the game on a plate.

Zubimendi — who I rate highly — was poor. He couldn't deal with O'Reilly's movement for the first goal. Didn't track the run. Didn't communicate. On another night that's forgivable. Today it was fatal.

But let's not scatter the blame so wide that we miss the main point.

Arteta picked Kepa. That's it. That's the post.

Every Arsenal fan who screamed and pushed for Kepa to start because "he deserves it" and "he kept us here" — I understand the love. I really do. But sentiment has no place in a cup final team sheet. Raya is our goalkeeper. Raya should have started. Full stop. Non negotiable.

We will bounce back. The league is still there. The Champions League is still there. This squad is still the best in England on current form.

But today we have to sit in this and be honest about what went wrong. That's how you get better. That's what separates a club with real culture from one that just makes excuses.

Arteta is a genius. He's also human. Today he got it wrong.

COYG. Always. 🔴⚪

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Lamasta:
We always win trophies boss

ajalawole:
una matter tire mean, because you beat a team dey are not upto your standad. Chelsea beat psg to win the club world cup, same psg beat Chelsea in the champion league. You arsenal fans don't know football is win, lose or draw.. You can as well start to compare pep with arteta. Na una matter be that.

Rubyjade:
I’d push back on that take a bit—because it simplifies a game that’s usually decided by fine margins.

First, yes, goalkeepers don’t play midfield or attack—but they absolutely influence how a team plays under pressure. A second-choice keeper often changes how comfortable a backline is building from the back, how aggressive the press can be, and even the risk level in possession. That ripple effect can reach midfield and attack indirectly.

Now, comparing City and Arsenal in that scenario: if you’re referring to James Trafford being used by Manchester City, versus Arsenal potentially relying on Kepa Arrizabalaga or another backup—context matters. Not all “second-choice” keepers are equal in experience, chemistry, or tactical fit. A keeper who’s trained longer in a system (like City’s) may execute it more cleanly than a newer or less integrated option.

That said, I agree with your core point: you don’t lose a game solely because of a goalkeeper. Matches are usually decided by:

- Control of midfield (tempo, transitions)
- Efficiency in attack (chance conversion)
- Defensive structure under pressure

If a team dominates possession but lacks penetration or makes poor decisions in the final third, that’s not on the keeper.

On motivation—yes, psychology plays a role. After a tough loss, like City’s criticism following a defeat to Real Madrid, top teams often respond with intensity. But as a intern coach, I’d caution against overplaying the “they wanted it more” narrative. At this level, both teams always want it. The difference is usually in execution, not desire.

So my response would be:

- The goalkeeper situation is a factor—but not an excuse.
- Tactical execution and decision-making matter more.
- Psychological response can sharpen performance, but it doesn’t replace structure and quality.

If Arsenal lost, I’d be asking:
1. Did we control midfield?
2. Did we create enough high-quality chances?
3. Did we manage transitions well? That’s where games are really won or lost.

Kalulu44:
I have told you before, football didn't start this year. They have won their own in the past. Now it's your turn, start winning o, cus if not you won't rest

Usmanovic95:
Arsenal need a good winger on both flanks. City won this game with their wingers semenyo and doku causing all sorts of problems.I think it's time Arteta need to start dropping saka,he needs some rest, far from his best this season.

femi4:
Game over

Bottling company..one trophy lost

The street will be quiet tonight

Banbanna:
Thumbs up, Man! Really nice analysis 👍

dequir:
I don't believe Arsenal are determined to win this match with their defensive and laid back style of play in the 2nd half. Even their choice of goalkeeper is an error.

ZombieDredd:
But you just said arsenal is not up to city because city beat us na

Abi u forget your argument again?

Madam go and drink water and sleep abeg

Bimpe29:
It's really a fact that, Pep Guardiola hasn't lost a Final Match in Wembley. Arsenal was pretty mesmerized and well beaten.

Congratulations to the Citizens as another trophyless season looms for the Gunners!

3 more trophies to bottle by Assnal.

Sccarrr:
we've won in the past too na....and go win more in coming months

Freshtruth:
Because say pep drop he ist choice keeper who conceded 5goals against Madrid. Okpor arteta drop world-class raya for kepa


Arteta no wise at alll


I trust jose morinho he would had stick with raya and Dem what the opposite couches and kepa feels

MrJames007:
Where are those people that were covering them with the blood

press9jatv:
Why can't Arteta start goal keeper Raya?
You start Kai Havertz that only fit for second half
Radarada 🫩🫩🫩

Love800:
Who cares about EFL!

Arsenal's solely goal this season is to clinch this season Epl trophy.

Just patiently wait and watch the 2nd leg of arsenal vs city in the premier league and you will wonder whether this was the arsenal that played today.
That day, city will be teared down like the wall of Jericho.

Perhaps, in cup final like today's own, anybody can win. Cup final don't cares about who is in form or not.

ajalawole:
me wey be your elder go drink water

Kalulu44:
They'll win the ucl watch it

ajalawole:
I do laugh arsenal fans that are hailing saka. Saka is not a real winger were doku or semenyo is.. Saka that should always try to cross, he will rather pass for a corner.