kepa arrizabalaga was at the centre of two turning moments in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, provoking fury after a last-ditch foul on Jeremy Doku and later gifting Manchester City an opening goal; the referee issued a yellow card and the match swung decisively in City’s favour on March 22, 2026 at 2: 15 PM ET. The foul left City players furious on the pitch while pundits and fans debated whether the decision should have been a red. Minutes later, a separate handling error allowed Nico O’Reilly to open the scoring and ignite a quick brace.
Kepa Arrizabalaga foul on Doku draws angry reaction
Manchester City broke quickly when Jeremy Doku raced in on goal with only the goalkeeper between him and an open net. The context states Doku knocked the ball past the keeper and, with nobody between him and goal, was momentarily wrapped up by the goalkeeper and brought to the ground. Referee Peter Bankes issued a yellow card for the stoppage, a decision that triggered protests from City players and a storm of reaction from supporters. Pundit Mike Dean said: “I think it’s a clear yellow card. I feel sorry for the referee because he penalises a bit too quick. He (Doku) could have probably carried on and he could have gone square to Haaland, there were players supporting. He could have gone back and cautioned the player but it’s gone so wide, the ball, that it’s impossible for it to be denying a goalscoring opportunity. A yellow card is the correct decision. “
How a separate Kepa Arrizabalaga error led to Nico O’Reilly’s brace
The match then turned when Kepa fumbled a cross that fell into the path of Nico O’Reilly, who headed home to open the scoring. The ball slipped between the goalkeeper’s gloves on the first chance, gifting O’Reilly an easy header; minutes later O’Reilly scored again from a second cross. The context describes Arsenal as having sleepwalked into the second period as City pushed home the advantage, and that O’Reilly’s quick brace sent City fans wild and left Arsenal chasing the game.
Immediate reactions and fallout
Commentator Gary Neville criticised the goalkeeper’s actions earlier in the match, describing the pre-goal behaviour as “nonsense” and linking it to the team’s collapse in the second half. Neville said the keeper’s actions contributed to a run of pressure that left Arsenal vulnerable: “It is a really bad one by the goalkeeper, a real howler in a massive moment, but it was punch after punch and O’Reilly steals in. ” The context records widespread uproar on the pitch and among supporters after the yellow card decision, and a debate over whether the referee should have allowed advantage longer before intervening.
Referee Peter Bankes’ decision to book rather than send off the goalkeeper kept Arsenal at eleven men but did not halt City’s momentum. The combined incidents — the foul on Doku and the handling error that led to O’Reilly’s opener — shaped the final’s narrative and handed City a decisive edge as the match progressed.
What happens next: Arsenal will have to answer questions about goalkeeper selection and in-game composure, while officials and pundits will continue to dissect Peter Bankes’ yellow-card decision; the immediate focus for both teams is recovery and preparation for the next fixtures that follow this Wembley defeat. Updated March 22, 2026 at 2: 42 PM ET.
