Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal to build on ‘magical’ place in League Cup final
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during his side's 1-0 win over Chelsea in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium on Feb 3..
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Mikel Arteta believes that Arsenal will use the “magical” feeling of reaching the League Cup final to fuel their English Premier League title charge.
His side beat Chelsea 1-0 in the semi-final, second leg on Feb 3 as Kai Havertz netted with virtually the last kick of the game in stoppage time to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.
It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in the 2025 Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.
Through to their first final in six years, they will face Manchester City or Newcastle United at Wembley on March 22.
It is shaping up to be a memorable season for Arsenal, who are six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Champions League last 16 by winning all eight of their group matches.
“Well, it’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we’re playing every three days,” Arteta said. “The fact that you work so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together, it’s just magical, because you can see the joy, the energy in the dressing room and everybody who works at the club.
“Winning helps in every sense. Confidence, energy, you call it. In the meantime, we know that we need to just put it aside, because three days later, we’re going to have a massive game here in the Premier League, and we’re on all fronts. So let’s keep moving.”
The tidal wave of noise that cascaded down from the Emirates Stadium stands in celebration of Havertz’s goal underlined the significance of the result to Arsenal and their silverware-starved fans.
After three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League and a host of semi-final defeats, reaching a final offers Arsenal a chance to prove they are more than perennial bridesmaids.
The Gunners have not won the League Cup since 1993, losing in their last three final appearances.
Now they have the chance to end that drought by winning the club’s first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City prior to joining Arsenal and saw the impact that domestic cup success had on the team as they dominated in the Premier League.
He is certain Arsenal have learnt the lessons of their past failures as they chase silverware on four fronts.
“We are so happy,” the Spaniard added. “Over the two games, we deserved to go through. We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal and the reaction from the crowd.
“The players give us every day their reasons to trust them and to play them. We have an excellent group.
“This is about learning from previous experiences. The way the team competed and understood what we had to do was really impressive. And now let’s win the final.”
While Arsenal set their sights on Wembley glory, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was left to rue the first major setback of his reign.
Before this match, the Englishman had won six of his first seven matches in all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca.
“We’re disappointed not to go through, but we can’t let this setback affect our future,” he said.
“I cannot fault the application, intensity or the fight of the players. What we need to do is remember this is the start... We need to make sure we rest and recover, and we keep improving as we go.” AFP
