The Arsenal boss is purely focused on winning a trophy.
The prospect of beating Pep Guardiola on the Wembley stage adds no extra incentive to the EFL Cup final for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as the Gunners prepare to face Manchester City in Sunday’s showpiece.
Arsenal are still in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple this season, and the Premier League leaders can claim their first major trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020 with victory over Guardiola’s side this weekend.
Arteta worked under Guardiola at City from 2016 to 2019, when he took over as Arsenal boss. Until this season, Arteta and Arsenal had been frustrated in their efforts to topple City in the league, with the Gunners finishing second in each of the last three seasons, which saw Guardiola’s men lift the title twice before Liverpool triumphed last term.
This campaign looks set to be different. Arsenal hold a nine-point lead over City at the top of the Premier League, though City have a game in hand and face Arteta’s men at the Etihad Stadium next month. They are also through to the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup.
Arsenal boss not focused on beating former mentor
The EFL Cup final is an opportunity for both sides to deal a psychological blow heading into the title run-in, but Arteta is not interested in any narratives beyond it being a chance for Arsenal to end their six-year wait for a trophy.
“It’s not about that,” Arteta told his pre-match press conference when asked about beating Guardiola.
“In this profession, you are constantly learning, constantly evolving. I had the incredible privilege to work with Pep for four years and all the staff and an amazing club. That remains part of me because it was part of the journey and where I am today as a manager. But that means you have to continue to evolve and improve constantly.”
Asked how big of a moment the game is in what could prove to be a historic season for the Gunners, Arteta said: “It’s one of the defining moments because at the end, it’s whether you win the trophy or not – and that’s the most important thing once you get to the final.
“But in order to be there, you have to do a lot of things and earn a lot of things as the team has done so far. So, we need to prove that point, that’s clear, and that has to be done on the pitch.
“For me, [just to win a trophy], that’s it. For me, that’s it. All the preparation and all the enjoyment in the next 48 hours to get to Wembley in the best possible way, really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen.”
