Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta urges players to prove they are winners in EFL Cup final

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Gunners[/a] are on course for an unprecedented quadruple, nine points clear of second-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] in the Premier League and with favourable quarter-final draws in the Champions League and FA Cup.[/p][p]But after three consecutive second-placed finishes in the Premier League, Arteta acknowledged his side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=rJ3qBSJD"]have to prove they can get over the line.[/a][/p][p][b]"It's going to be one of the defining moments because at the end of the day it is about whether you win the trophy or not,"[/b] the Spaniard said on Friday.[/p][p][b]"That is the most important thing once you get to the final.[/b][/p][p][b]"But in order to be there you have to do a lot of things. There are a lot of things the team has done so far, but we need to prove that point, that's clear, and it has to be done on the pitch."[/b][/p][embed guid="66394ef0-e78b-46e6-96a4-3d011a362aa3" url="https://x.com/Carabao_Cup/status/2019342565775118459" social-type="twitter" /][p]Arteta has transformed Arsenal's fortunes since leaving his job as Pep Guardiola's assistant at City to take charge at the Emirates in 2019.[/p][p][b]But he has won just one major trophy during his reign - leading his team to FA Cup glory in 2020 at an empty Wembley during coronavirus restrictions.[/b][/p][p]Guardiola said in his own pre-match press conference his relationship with Arteta had changed over time, but played down talk of any friction now they are title rivals.[/p][p]The Arsenal boss said he is forever grateful for the opportunity he had to learn alongside Guardiola early in his coaching career.[/p][p][b]"The fact we are never together and can never spend time together is important in our relationship, but it is not the most important,"[/b] said Arteta.[/p][p][b]"How I feel about him and the time we had together and what he did for me, the inspiration he's been... that is never going to change."[/b][/p][embed guid="b4a112d1-12ae-475c-af37-f1859144ae15" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2035031831335047642" social-type="twitter" /][p]Arteta hopes captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/odegaard-martin/ID32TGhp/"]Martin Odegaard[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-jurrien/hSaoLOM4/"]Jurrien Timber[/a] will be fit enough for the Wembley final after missing the 2-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayer-leverkusen/4jcj2zMd/"]Bayer Leverkusen[/a] in midweek due to injury.[/p][p]And he refused to confirm who would start in goal.[/p][p]Guardiola said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trafford-james/ET616yZQ/"]James Trafford[/a] will keep his place for City instead of number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/donnarumma-gianluigi/WScbdXmL/"]Gianluigi Donnarumma[/a] after starting all his side's domestic cup games this season.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arrizabalaga-kepa/Yq2dyUwN/"]Kepa Arrizabalaga[/a] has played most of Arsenal's cup games, but plays second fiddle to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raya-david/nkVV0IXb/"]David Raya[/a] in the Premier League and Champions League.[/p]