Mikel Arteta is confident Arsenal can harness the “magical” feeling of reaching the League Cup final to drive their Premier League title push.
The Gunners edged Chelsea 1-0 in the second leg of the semi-final on Tuesday, with Kai Havertz scoring in stoppage time to secure a 4-2 aggregate win. The victory ended a frustrating run of semi-final exits for Arsenal, who had fallen short in several major competitions in recent years.
It will be Arsenal’s first cup final in six years, with a Wembley showdown on March 22 against either Manchester City or Newcastle. City currently hold a 2-0 advantage heading into the second leg of their semi-final.
The season continues to shape up strongly for Arsenal, who sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League and progressed to the Champions League last 16 after winning all eight group matches.
Arteta said the emotional high from reaching the final can boost the squad, but stressed the importance of staying focused with key league fixtures coming quickly.
Winning, he noted, brings confidence, energy and belief throughout the club, but Arsenal must put the cup celebrations aside as they continue to compete on multiple fronts.
The atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium highlighted how significant the moment was for fans who have waited years for silverware. Arsenal last lifted the League Cup in 1993 and have lost their last three finals in the competition. Their most recent trophy came in the 2020 FA Cup.
Arteta believes the team has matured through past disappointments and is ready to convert experience into success, having seen first-hand the impact of domestic cup victories during his time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, meanwhile, admitted disappointment at exiting the competition but urged his side to move on quickly, insisting the setback should not define their future.
