Arteta on semi-final: 'We are really motivated'

Having exited at the semi-final stage in the Carabao Cup last season, Mikel Arteta says his team are extra motivated to go one step further this time around.

We lost out to eventual winners Newcastle United over two legs in 2024/25 - but have the chance to avenge that defeat as we face Chelsea in two matches, looking to reach Wembley.

Ahead of the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Mikel is confident his team are ready for the task at hand and learned from last season's exploits.

He said: "The boys are really motivated and at it because we can sense that that’s where we want to be and we have to make another step in order to achieve what we want and that’s the objective tomorrow.

"The more you are involved in these kind of games, the better, because it gives you a nudge, it brings the team a different kind of energy. It gives you the sense that the objective is very, very close and that’s a massive motivation for everybody. So we know that we are two games away from playing a final. We have to go game-by-game and the first one is Stamford Bridge.

"Football gives you another chance. We’ve been really consistent again in the competition, and now we have to knock another big team out of the competition to be in the final, and that’s the mission.

"Hopefully we’ll learn from last year because it was painful, especially in the manner that the games went and the amount of chances that we missed not to go through, but hopefully this year we are better and hopefully more efficient."

Mikel was part of the backroom staff at Manchester City when the Citizens lifted the Carabao Cup in 2018 and 2019. The Spaniard knows first-hand what going all the way in this tournament can do for a team.

He said: "When you get to this stage in the competition, you get to the final and you get over the line and win it, it brings energy, it brings belief and the sense that everybody is very important and playing part of that, so yeah, I think it’s something, when you get there and win it, everybody remembers and if not, nobody does. So, once you get there, get the job done.

"We’re looking forward to a big game tomorrow and how we’re going to behave in these scenarios to achieve what we want."

Click here to read article