Ciaran Morrison

Sun 22 March 2026 19:30, UK

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made the wrong call starting Piero Hincapie at left-back over Riccardo Calafiori in the Carabao Cup final.

Manchester City defeated the Gunners 2-0 at Wembley to earn the first trophy of the season over their Premier League rivals.

Arteta had already made the bold call of keeping cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the team over David Raya, and that failed to pay off with his mistake leading to the first of Nico O’Reilly’s two goals.

Arsenal only had one shot on target in the second half, as Man City deservedly ran out winners, with the Gunners showing little signs of a comeback.

Defeat means Arsenal must focus on beating Man City in the Premier League title race, and Arteta will have learned a lot from this contest.

Piero Hincapie wins zero aerial duels in Man City defeat

Arteta was dealt a blow before the final when it was confirmed that full-back Jurrien Timber would not be available for selection.

Ben White kept his place in the team from the victory over Bayer Leverkusen, with Hincapie preferred over Calafiori at left-back.

It proved to be the wrong decision as Hincapie got himself booked after just 13 minutes and failed to contain a lively Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki.

Arteta prolonged his changes until the 65th minute, and Calafiori looked to want to prove a point when he entered the pitch.

Calafiori successfully completed all his 10 passes, won three of his four ground duels, won all his tackles and had two shots.

Myles Lewis-Skelly can also be annoyed at cup final snub

With Calafiori also able to play at right-back, and with Ben White on a yellow card in the second half, Myles Lewis-Skelly will be frustrated that he did not get an opportunity from the subs bench.

Sources have told Football Insider that Lewis-Skelly could leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window due to his lack of game time.

Lewis-Skelly has played no part in eight of the last 10 fixtures in all competitions, suggesting that Arteta does not favour the 19-year-old over his other options.

It would have done Arteta no harm though to give Lewis-Skelly game time against Man City, in what has instead only created more doubt over his future in north London.