Mikel Arteta has described Arsenal’s upcoming League
Cup final clash against Manchester City as a crucial moment in the club’s quest
to shed its “nearly men” reputation.
The Arsenal FC boss emphasized that winning trophies
is what ultimately defines a team, despite the strong progress his side has
made this season.
The Gunners are currently enjoying an impressive
campaign, sitting nine points clear of City in the Premier League and remaining
in contention across multiple competitions, including the Champions League and
FA Cup, as they chase a potential quadruple.
However, Arteta acknowledged that after finishing as
runners-up in the league for three consecutive seasons, his team must now prove
they can go all the way.
He stressed that reaching finals is not enough and
that success must be secured on the pitch.
Since taking over in 2019 after working under Pep
Guardiola, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into a title-contending side. Despite
that progress, his only major silverware so far remains the FA Cup triumph in
2020.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of the final, played down
any rivalry between the two managers, even as their teams continue to compete
closely for major honours.
Arteta also expressed gratitude for Guardiola’s
influence on his career, describing him as a lasting source of inspiration.
Ahead of the Wembley showdown, Arsenal are hopeful
that captain Martin Ødegaard and defender Jurrien Timber will recover from
injuries in time for the match.
Meanwhile, Guardiola confirmed that goalkeeper James
Trafford will start the final, ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
For Arsenal, Kepa Arrizabalaga has featured regularly
in cup competitions this season, though David Raya remains first choice in the
Premier League and Champions League.
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