Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City as a crucial moment in the club’s quest to shed their “nearly men” reputation.
The Gunners head into the clash in strong form, sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League table while also progressing well in both the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup.
Despite their impressive run, Arsenal have fallen short in recent seasons, finishing second in the league three times in a row. Arteta acknowledged that his team must now prove they can convert promise into silverware.
“It’s going to be one of the defining moments because at the end of the day it is about whether you win the trophy or not,” he said.
“That is the most important thing once you get to the final.
“But in order to be there you have to do a lot of things. There are a lot of things the team has done so far, but we need to prove that point, that’s clear, and it has to be done on the pitch.”
Since taking charge in 2019 after working under Pep Guardiola, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into genuine contenders. However, his only major trophy remains the FA Cup triumph in 2020.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of the final, played down any sense of rivalry between the two managers, despite their teams battling closely for top honours.
Arteta, meanwhile, expressed appreciation for Guardiola’s influence on his managerial journey.
“The fact we are never together and can never spend time together is important in our relationship, but it is not the most important,” he said.
“How I feel about him and the time we had together and what he did for me, the inspiration he’s been… that is never going to change.”
Arsenal will be hoping key players like Martin Ødegaard and Jurrien Timber recover in time for the Wembley showdown after missing their recent win over Bayer Leverkusen through injury.
On the other side, Guardiola has confirmed that James Trafford will start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma. For Arsenal, Kepa Arrizabalaga has been the preferred option in cup competitions, though he remains behind David Raya in the league and Champions League pecking order.
