Arteta on ‘Mission’ to Knock Chelsea Out of Carabao Cup

Mikel Arteta has said it is his “mission” to eliminate Chelsea from the Carabao Cup and deliver Arsenal’s first major trophy in almost six years, as the Gunners seek redemption following last season’s painful semi-final exit.

Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the first leg of their semi-final tie, with Arteta facing significant defensive concerns. Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera are all ruled out, while William Saliba remains a major doubt.

The Gunners failed to reach the Carabao Cup final last season after suffering a heavy 4-0 aggregate defeat to Newcastle United. That disappointment was compounded by a Champions League semi-final exit and falling short in the Premier League title race, leaving Arteta’s sole trophy as Arsenal manager the FA Cup he won in 2020.

Despite those setbacks, Arsenal approach this season’s semi-final still competing on all four fronts. They sit top of both the Premier League and their Champions League group, and progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a convincing 4-1 victory over Portsmouth on Sunday.

“Football gives you another chance,” Arteta said. “We have been really consistent again in this competition and now we have to knock another big team out to be in the final. That is the mission.

“Hopefully we have learned from last year because it was painful, especially in the manner that the games went and the amount of chances we missed to go through. This year we want to be better and more efficient.

“When you get to this stage of the competition and you reach the final and win it, it brings a different kind of energy. It brings belief and the sense that the objective is very, very close, and that is a massive motivation for everybody.”

The defensive absences could force Arteta to field a makeshift back four at Stamford Bridge, with Christian Nørgaard potentially partnering Gabriel at centre-back. Leandro Trossard, who has scored seven goals this season, is also a fitness doubt.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine matches, but they face a Chelsea side buoyed by the arrival of new manager Liam Rosenior. Rosenior began his tenure with an emphatic 5-1 FA Cup victory over Charlton, although Wednesday’s clash will mark his first match in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Asked about his opposite number, Arteta added: “I know people who have worked with him and people who have been close to him on his journey, especially as a coach, and they speak very highly of him. So I wish him all the best — apart from tomorrow.”