Arteta: Hopefully Gunners learn lesson
LONDON: Arsenal hope to bounce back when they visit Liverpool in the semifinal first leg of the League Cup today.
Mikel Arteta’s men were knocked out by Championship side Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round at the weekend.
“We were all extremely disappointed and upset after the game. We analysed what happened, we discussed it, we talked about it and hopefully learned from it,” Arteta was quoted as saying on www.arsenal.com yesterday.
“After that you have to throw it in the bin, take the lesson and move on because the game we have ahead of us tomorrow [today] is too important.”
The first leg was originally scheduled for last week at Arsenal but was postponed due to Covid-19 cases at Liverpool.
But Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said this week the coronavirus outbreak included many false positives, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the only confirmed case.
Asked about the matter, Arteta said: “It’s something that is not in our control. The EFL [English Football League] is responsible to check every single player’s status and then make the decision whether the game is played or not.”
Liverpool will be without Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, two of their most important players who are playing for their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“They have a couple of players out, we certainly have a lot out as well. It is what it is. We’re going to have to go there to try to win the first match because it’s going to put us in a better position for the second one,” Arteta said.
Asked about playing the second leg at home, the Spanish coach said: “Things have changed because the timing of the game has become different. The first leg is in a different place. It’s completely uncertain and unpredictable, but it is what it is.”
The return leg will now take place on Jan 20 at the Emirates Stadium.
Tottenham hosted Chelsea in the second leg last night with the Blues winning the first leg 2-0. The final will be on Feb 27 at Wembley.