Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal supporters to 'attack the final' alongside his players when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. The Gunners are seeking their first major trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020, which was played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
Arteta acknowledged the added pressure of a near six-year trophy drought, saying: 'When you have been in this position and [gone] years without winning a trophy obviously it adds more necessity, but as well more drive because you really want it.' He urged fans to 'show how much we really want it and together attack the final.'
The Arsenal manager refused to discuss the possibility of a quadruple, stressing the need to focus on the present. 'You live the moment and the present … that's the only focus that you can put in,' he said. 'The fact that we are at the end of March and we are in four competitions tells a lot about the team.'
Arteta remained tight-lipped on team selection, declining to confirm whether goalkeeper David Raya or Kepa Arrizabalaga would start, or if injured duo Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber would be available. 'We have another session tomorrow, so let's see if they can make it,' he said.
On his relationship with City manager Pep Guardiola, his former mentor, Arteta said: 'The feelings from my side hasn't changed at all … what I feel about him and the time that we had together and what he did for me, the inspiration has been since I was little for me. That's never going to change.'
