Mikel Arteta has revealed that his focus remains on winning Arsenal’s first major trophy in six years ahead of their EFL Cup semifinal first leg clash against Chelsea tonight.
The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge to face the Blues in their first leg encounter on Wednesday night, to determine who progresses to the final of the competition.
The North London side also got to this stage last season, but were defeated 4-0 on aggregate after two legs by eventual winners Newcastle United.
Arsenal are also top of the league standings, six points ahead of second-placed Manchester City and are also at the summit of the league phase of this season’s UCL campaign.
Football gives you another chance. 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,” Arteta said.
“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.”
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Chelsea, including a 1-1 draw when both sides met in the EPL this season.
However, the Blues have a new boss in the dugout with Liam Rosenior replacing Enzo Maresca, who parted ways with the club on New Year’s Day.
“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.
“It brings belief and the sense that the objective is very, very close and that is a massive motivation for everybody.”
Manchester City claimed a 2-0 win over defending champions Newcastle United in the first leg of the other semifinal clash on Tuesday night.
Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki grabbed the goals for Pep Guardiola’s side, who take a two-goal advantage into the second leg in February.
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