Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to use cup final loss as ‘fuel’ to fire them to title

Mikel Arteta vowed to use the “fuel” of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City as a springboard to glory this season.

Arsenal’s quadruple dreams were dashed by a disappointing 2-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley 12 days ago.

However, the Gunners are still nine points clear in the Premier League title race and they will face Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Arteta’s side also travel to Sporting Lisbon for the opening leg of their Champions League last-eight match next week.

Arsenal’s defeat at Wembley raised serious questions about the club’s big-game mentality and left Arteta still awaiting his first trophy in nearly six years.

But the Spaniard said: “When you didn’t manage to win that final, what you have to take on board is: ‘Okay, how is this going to make us stronger for the final push of the season?’

“That has been the mindset and the only work that we have done in the last few days, to use that as fuel, as tools, to be able to get the final push that we want and achieve what we want. And immediately, I could sense that (from the players).

“Ideally you play again the next day and when you have an international break, it is not exactly what you want. But you have to use it in the right way.

“We analysed what we did, not just on that game, but the last 120 days, the amount of matches we have played, our winning ratio and all the things we have accomplished and gave some perspective, but also being critical about what we can do better to help the players and to win in any game and in any context.

“It will make us better and now we have to use it for the most important and beautiful part of the season.”

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