Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his team have to take the FA Cup “very seriously” and charged them to become “addicted” to winning.
The FA Cup continues today with Arsenal taking on Leeds United later tonight at 7:56 PM local time.
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The returning Arteta who himself won the prestigious FA Cup under former coach Arsene Wenger wants his team to go all out firing in all cylinders and claim victory against Leeds. The new coach has charged up the atmosphere in what has largely a lifeless Arsenal camp this season until they beat Manchester United and the Spaniard is rearing to go again and add another win to his managerial tally.
“We have to be challenging for the cups and we’ll try to do that again this season,” said Arteta.
Arsenal have won the FA Cup a record 13 times and very last won it in 2016/17.
“It is a competition that is very attached to this football club in recent years and we have to take it very seriously,” said the 37-year-old Spaniard.
“I think winning brings togetherness, and when you have beautiful experiences together and you win trophies, those experiences stay within that group.
“After you win, you don’t want to stop winning. You become addicted to that – and that is what we have to try and implement at this club.”
Gunners will be missing Calum Chambers who is out for the rest of the season likewise Hector Bellerin and the prolific Gabriel Martinelli are both out with hamstring injuries.
Leeds would have loved to sign Eddie Nketiah this January having been with them for the first half of the season and have him line up against his would-be old club but “if wishes were horses.” They will be without the 20-year-old who had been recalled from his loan spell by Arteta.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa says he will be giving debuts to defender Robbie Gotts and goalkeeper Illan Meslier alongside defenders Gaetano Berardi and Barry Douglas who are also starting.
“Of course it is a big challenge for us. It is enough to see the players and the prestige and level they have,” said Argentine Bielsa.
“When people think that we are the favourite in one match, we don’t consider things like that – and neither do we with the opposite, which is in this case.
“Every time we compete, we trust in our resources and respect our opponent’s resources.
“We will always do this with the wish to impose our style, and we will try to do this on Monday.”
On the challenge posed by their Championship opponents, Arteta added: “I know how tough it will be to play against them.
“[Bielsa] makes them fight, challenge, run, compete and never give up in any game or any circumstances.”
The Gunners gun for their 14th FA title but first they must negotiate a tricky tie against Leeds tonight.