Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta dismissed pre-match nerves ahead of Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City, emphasizing his squad’s hunger to end a six-year trophy drought.
The Gunners haven’t lifted major silverware since the 2020 FA Cup-Arteta’s debut season-and have repeatedly fallen short despite three consecutive Premier League runner-up finishes.
Now, they sit nine points clear atop the Premier League, remain in the Champions League, and are in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Sunday’s Wembley clash offers their first chance at hardware this campaign.
“When you’ve been in this position for years without a trophy, it adds necessity-but also drive,” Arteta said Friday. “We want it so much.”
Arteta, formerly Guardiola’s assistant at City, downplayed psychological narratives but acknowledged a win could ignite momentum. Arsenal are unbeaten in 14 matches across all competitions and haven’t lost to City in their last four meetings-though three ended in draws.
“Excited. Enthusiastic. Positive,” Arteta said of his mindset. He refused to entertain talk of a quadruple, insisting the focus remains “trophy by trophy.”