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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has labelled Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City as a potential turning point for the club, as they aim to shed their reputation as “nearly men.”
Currently nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and chasing an unprecedented quadruple, the Gunners face their toughest test yet at Wembley.
Arteta emphasised that while the team’s progress has been significant, the ultimate validation must come from winning silverware on the pitch.
The match highlights the evolving relationship between Arteta and his former mentor, Pep Guardiola.
Despite recent friction following a contentious draw earlier this season, both managers expressed mutual respect during their Friday press conferences.
Arteta credited Guardiola as a career inspiration, while the City boss played down talk of a rift, noting that the intensity of a title race naturally changes how often the two can spend time together.
Selection dilemmas headline the buildup, with Arteta hoping for the return of captain Martin Ødegaard and defender Jurrien Timber.
While Guardiola has already confirmed that cup specialist James Trafford will start in goal for City over Gianluigi Donnarumma, Arteta remained tight-lipped about whether he would stick with cup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga or start Premier League first-choice David Raya.
