Kepa Arrizabalaga's 'Wembley curse' continued as his howler cost Arsenal the Carabao Cup and their quadruple hopes against Manchester City - the latest in a list of horror finals for the Chelsea flop
20:35, 22 Mar 2026Updated 20:39, 22 Mar 2026
Kepa Arrizabalaga
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Kepa Arrizabalaga's latest Wembley nightmare happened on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
Kepa Arrizabalaga's 'Wembley curse' has continued as Arsenal were beaten by Manchester City at Wembley, thanks largely to his latest final horror show.
It's another loss at the home of football for the Spanish shot-stopper - who was lucky to escape a red card for a foul on Jeremy Doku and was then at fault for Nico O'Reilly's opener, when he flapped and fumbled a cross from Rayan Cherki. Boyhood City fan O'Reilly netted his second a couple of minutes later, as Kepa failed to get near his effort, and City went on to lift the cup.
It was a familiar heartbreak for Kepa - still the most expensive goalkeeper in history following his £72m transfer to Chelsea in 2018 - who has now faced defeat six times at Wembley. His first League Cup loss was in 2018/19, the infamous clash against City in which he refused to be substituted by then Blues boss Maurizio Sarri and lost the game on penalties.
Kepa has had rotten luck at Wembley
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Kepa has had rotten luck at Wembley(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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The following year he was on the bench during their final FA Cup final with Arsenal behind closed doors - and again Kepa was on the losing side. And there was more heartbreak in 2021 as his Chelsea team lost to Leicester City, when he was beaten by a long distance Youri Tielemans strike.
His next trip to Wembley came in 2022, during the Carabao Cup final against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. It might have been his toughest hour, as he came off the bench for a penalty shootout, as a supposed set piece specialist.
But he went on to concede all 11 - including cheeky efforts from Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho in response to his goading - and then missed his own against Reds reserve stopper Caoimhin Kelleher, who scored.
Kepa once refused to be subbed in the Carabao Cup final
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Kepa once refused to be subbed in the Carabao Cup final(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk stares down Kepa Arrizabalaga after the then Chelsea goalkeeper failed to psyche him out during Liverpool's penalty shootout victory in the Carabao Cup final
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Virgil van Dijk stares down Kepa Arrizabalaga after the then Chelsea goalkeeper failed to psyche him out during Liverpool's penalty shootout victory in the Carabao Cup final(Image: Sky Sports)
He did have a chance at redemption in the FA Cup final that season against the Reds, but that time remained on the bench for another shootout loss.
Sunday was Kepa's latest trip to Wembley, and latest heartbreak. And the curse was quickly remembered by fans on social media.
"Another League Cup final… another rough moment for Kepa Arrizabalaga," one fan shared. While a second posted: "Can’t believe Kepa has done it again, genuinely cursed GK at Wembley!"
"Ban him from Wembley," a third fumed. As a fourth said: "He should stop involving himself in any final. Loser..."
Kepa's nightmare moment handed the game to Manchester City
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Kepa's nightmare moment handed the game to Manchester City(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Sunday wasn't Kepa's finest hour
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Sunday wasn't Kepa's finest hour(Image: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK/Shutterstock)
And another added: "Some genius knew he lost three and decided to play him anyways lol... Final was lost there!"
Speaking after losing the final, Arteta said: "It's painful when you get to a final and you have that will to win the first trophy of a season after eight months working on it is always tough.
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"We had the best chance of the game to put it 1-0 and the game would be different. They had two shots and scored two goals."