Mikel Arteta believes that winning the Carabao Cup could be a crucial stepping stone for Arsenal to secure bigger trophies, as they prepare to face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals. The match, set for Wednesday, represents an opportunity for Arteta’s side to make progress in a competition they have not won since 1993.
Arteta, who will celebrate his fifth anniversary as Arsenal’s manager on Friday, has experienced a mixture of successes and near-misses during his tenure. While he has secured the FA Cup in his first season and two Community Shields, Arsenal has finished as Premier League runners-up in the past two campaigns. Despite these accomplishments, Arteta is eager to add more silverware to his collection, and he sees the Carabao Cup as a potential catalyst for further success.
The manager is determined to field a strong team against Palace, even though his squad is dealing with defensive injury concerns. With Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko unavailable, Arteta is likely to turn to the young Myles Lewis-Skelly to fill in at left-back. The match against Crystal Palace, therefore, is not just about progressing in the League Cup, but also about maintaining momentum and building a winning mentality within the squad.
Arteta is a firm believer in the power of winning, especially at this stage of the season. He has emphasized how victories in such competitions can have a profound impact on a team’s morale and confidence. According to Arteta, winning the Carabao Cup would not only provide Arsenal with a tangible trophy but would also create a sense of belief and positivity that could propel the team forward in other competitions. The timing of the Carabao Cup is crucial, as it comes at a point in the season when teams are looking to build momentum for the second half of the campaign. Arteta sees the competition as a springboard that can help Arsenal achieve greater success in the future.
The importance of the Carabao Cup is not lost on Arteta, who views it as a key opportunity for his players to experience the thrill of winning and to use that energy to fuel their ambitions in other competitions. Arsenal’s long wait for a League Cup trophy has added extra significance to this year’s campaign. For Arteta, lifting the trophy in March would be a symbol of progress and a crucial step toward achieving the broader goals he has set for the team.
As Arteta approaches his anniversary at the club, he reflects on the challenges and rewards of managing a team of Arsenal’s stature. While he has experienced moments of success, such as winning the FA Cup in his first season, the manager acknowledges that there is still work to be done. The anniversary itself will be a special occasion for Arteta, who has shown deep gratitude for the opportunity to manage a club of Arsenal’s size. Despite not drinking wine, Arteta considers the milestone an important moment in his career, especially given the progress the team has made under his leadership.
One of the key players in the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Palace is Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian forward has had a challenging season so far, with only one goal to his name – scored in the Carabao Cup win over Preston in October. Arteta has expressed confidence in Jesus’s ability to regain his form, noting that while confidence may be a factor, the forward’s determination to score is evident. Arteta believes that if Jesus can find his rhythm, he will become an important asset for the team, particularly in the crucial moments of the season.
Arteta has been clear about the expectations for Jesus. He needs to deliver when given the chance, and the manager is hopeful that the forward’s persistence will eventually pay off. Jesus’s struggles this season have been a topic of discussion, but Arteta remains supportive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining belief and focus. Jesus’s ability to contribute in front of goal will be vital for Arsenal as they look to build momentum in the Carabao Cup and other competitions.
In conclusion, Arteta views the Carabao Cup as more than just a domestic trophy. He sees it as an opportunity to build confidence, momentum, and belief within the squad. A win against Crystal Palace would be a significant step toward achieving greater success, and Arteta is determined to make the most of this chance to guide his team to silverware. As he celebrates his fifth anniversary at Arsenal, the manager is focused on the future and the potential for his team to achieve even greater things.
