Mikel Arteta has described it as his “mission” to knock Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup and deliver Arsenal’s first major trophy in almost six years, as the Gunners look to move on from what he called a “painful” semifinal exit last season.
Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the first leg of their latest semifinal, but Arteta could be without as many as four defenders.
Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera are all ruled out, while there are significant doubts over William Saliba’s fitness, potentially forcing the Arsenal manager into a makeshift back line.
The competition carries particular significance for Arteta after last season’s emphatic 4-0 aggregate defeat by Newcastle United at the same stage.
That disappointment was compounded by exits in the Champions League semifinals and a title challenge that ultimately fell short, leaving the 2020 FA Cup as Arteta’s only trophy since taking charge.
Despite that history, Arsenal head into the tie still competing on all four fronts.
They sit top of both the Premier League and the Champions League and progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win at Portsmouth on Sunday.
“Football gives you another chance,” Arteta said. “We have been really consistent again in this competition and now we have to knock another big team out to be in the final. That is the mission.
“Hopefully we have learned from last year because it was painful, especially in the manner that the games went, and the amount of chances we missed to go through. So this year we want to be better and more efficient.”
Arteta believes lifting the trophy could have a transformative effect on his squad as they chase success across multiple competitions. “When you get to this stage in the competition, you get to the final, and you get it over the line and win it, it brings a different kind of energy,” he said. “It brings belief and the sense that the objective is very, very close and that is a massive motivation for everybody.”
Defensive injuries may complicate Arsenal’s plans, with Christian Norgaard an option to deputise alongside Gabriel at centre-half if Saliba is unavailable. Leandro Trossard, who has scored seven goals this season, is also a doubt.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine matches but face a Chelsea side reinvigorated by the arrival of new head coach Liam Rosenior, who began his tenure with a 5-1 FA Cup win at Charlton.
Wednesday’s semi-final, however, will mark Rosenior’s first appearance at Stamford Bridge in front of the home supporters.
Arteta offered warm words for his opposite number ahead of the tie, while making clear where his priorities lie. “I know people who have worked with him,” he said. “I know people that have been close to him in his journey, especially as a coach, and they talk really highly of him. So, I wish him all the best apart from tomorrow.”
Source link
