Mikel Arteta has called on his Arsenal side to “bring it home” as they prepare for Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City, with the manager eager to shake off the team’s reputation for falling just short.
Arsenal are enjoying an outstanding campaign and remain on track for a potential quadruple. They currently sit nine points ahead of second-placed City in the Premier League and have favourable quarter-final ties lined up in both the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup.
Despite their strong form, Arteta acknowledged the need for silverware, with the club having gone six years without a trophy and finishing as league runners-up in each of the past three seasons.
“When it comes to decisive moments—when you have the chance to win a trophy and bring it home—that’s when your top players must step up and make the difference,” he said during his pre-match press conference.
The Spanish coach described the Wembley showdown as one of the defining fixtures of Arsenal’s season, stressing that reaching the final is not enough without lifting the trophy.
“In the end, it’s about whether you win it or not—that’s what truly matters once you reach a final,” he added. “We’ve done many things right to get here, but now we must prove ourselves on the pitch.”
Since taking charge in 2019 after leaving his role as assistant to Pep Guardiola at City, Arteta has overseen a significant revival at Arsenal. However, his only major honour remains the 2020 FA Cup, won at an empty Wembley during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guardiola, speaking separately, downplayed suggestions of tension between the two managers despite their current rivalry, noting that their relationship has naturally evolved over time.
Arteta, meanwhile, expressed deep gratitude toward Guardiola for the influence he had on his early coaching career.
“We don’t get to spend much time together now, which is part of the job, but that doesn’t change how I feel,” he said. “What he did for me and the inspiration he provided will always stay with me.”
Looking ahead to the final, Arteta is hopeful that captain Martin Odegaard and defender Jurrien Timber will be fit after missing the midweek 2–0 win over Bayer Leverkusen due to injury. He also declined to reveal his starting goalkeeper.
On the City side, Guardiola confirmed that James Trafford will continue in goal for the cup competition, keeping his place ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma after featuring in all domestic cup matches this season.
For Arsenal, Kepa Arrizabalaga has typically started in domestic cups, while David Raya remains first choice in the league and Champions League.