Arteta backs Gunners to build on 'magical' League Cup feeling

LONDON — Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal will use the "magical" feeling of reaching the League Cup final to fuel its Premier League title charge.

Arteta's side beat Chelsea 1-0 in the semifinal second leg on Tuesday as Kai Havertz netted with virtually the last kick of the game to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.

It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semifinals in the 2025 Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.

In its first final for six years, Arsenal will face Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley on March 22.

City holds a 2-0 lead over Newcastle ahead of Wednesday's second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

"We knew it was going to be a real battle out there. That resilience, that clarity to understand what kind of game we had to play, we did so well,"Arteta said.

It is shaping up to be a memorable season for Arsenal, which is six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Champions League last 16 by winning all eight of its group matches.

"Well, it's the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we're playing every three days,"Arteta said when asked about the formula to Arsenal's success.

"The fact that you work so hard to achieve these moments, and to have these moments together, it's just magical, because you can see the joy, the smiles, the energy in the dressing room, and from everybody who works at the club.

"Winning helps in every sense. Confidence, energy, you call it. We're going to be there in a few weeks.

"In the meantime, we know that we need to just put it aside, because in three days, we're going to have a massive game here in the Premier League, and we're (fighting) on all fronts. That's where we want to be. So let's keep moving."

The tidal wave of noise that cascaded down from the Emirates Stadium stands as Arteta danced on the pitch in celebration of Havertz's goal underlined the significance of the result to Arsenal and its silverware-starved fans.

'A beautiful way'

After three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League and a host of semifinal defeats, reaching a final offers Arsenal a chance to prove it is more than just a perennial bridesmaid.

Arsenal hasn't won the League Cup since 1993, losing in its last three final appearances.

Now, it has the chance to end that drought by winning the club's first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.

Arteta was Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City prior to joining Arsenal and saw the impact that domestic cup success had on the team as it dominated in the Premier League.

He is certain Arsenal has learned the lessons of its past failures, as it chases silverware on four fronts.

"We are so happy. Over the two games, we deserved to go through. We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the manner that he did and the reaction from the crowd," Arteta said.

"Every day, the players give us their reasons to trust them and to play them and to make sure that they feel part of that. We have an excellent group. The quality, obviously, is there.

"This is about learning from previous experiences. The way the team competed and understood what we had to do was really impressive. Now, let's win the final."

While Arsenal sets its sights on Wembley glory, Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior was left to rue the first major setback of his reign.

Rosenior had won six of his first seven matches across all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca.

But Rosenior was unable to solve his Arsenal conundrum, with the Gunners handing him the only two defeats of his brief reign.

"Arsenal know they were in a game over both ties. We dominated the areas we wanted to in the second half, but we didn't find that quality moment," Rosenior said.

"It's painful to lose. We just need to keep making improvements, which I'm seeing from the first leg to the second.

"We're disappointed not to go through, albeit against a very good team, but we can't let this setback affect our future," he said.

AFP