ART’S SET ON GLORY

FA Cup, Prem next season or just attracting - and keeping - big names, the Gunners boss is really looking the part in the Emirates hotseat

IMPRESSED by this win? Just imagine what Mikel Arteta will do next season if they give him the Arsenal credit card this summer.

Consider too what a campaign we have in store with the Gunners – who also beat Liverpool last week – on course to join Manchester United and Chelsea in rising from their slumber.

Because after seeing off Manchester City on Saturday night, Arteta made no bones about the fact that he is looking forward to showing the kind of character and clinical finishing that smashed up the odds here on a more regular basis in the Premier League.

“That is the challenge,” said the Arsenal boss. “The challenge is to do that for long periods in a season.

“From now we have a challenge, after a beautiful week winning against the best two teams in Europe – how do we react? Do we back off, or do we go again and are we ready to play against

Aston Villa?

“Every game has a different plan. We are very analytical and realistic with our options, where they are and how we can make them better.”

Winning the FA Cup would represent more than just a trophy for Arsenal this season.

For Arteta it would be a bargaining chip, a negotiating position. A pot to prove that he did not just get the job because he is Pep Guardiola’s mate.

Winners’ medals for Arteta’s players would underline his ability to organise the most shambolic defence the Gunners have had in the last 25 years. They would showcase his man-management, his courage under fire following that 3-0 league defeat to City just after the lockdown in which Arsenal had their backsides handed to them.

For all the triumphalism over Saturday’s win and the joy at reaching the FA Cup Final, the Gunners have been here and done that, lifting the trophy three times in the last six seasons.

This time around the FA Cup for Arsenal would be a stepping stone.

A sign that the pulse of that winning culture in the red half of north London is still beating.

Win it this time and perhaps even match-winner Pierre-emerick Aubameyang (netting his two goals against City, below) might just think twice about jumping ship with the tide turning. Win it now and maybe those players who laughed in gentle sympathy at Arteta’s claim that the club remains a big draw might just change their minds.

The Spaniard does not care – and could yet have the last laugh.

“I don’t think we should bring players that need a lot of convincing,” he added.

“The feeling I get when I talk to a lot of people is that the players still want to come to the club because of the history, the way we do things, our values, the fans we have, our stadium.

“That’s a really attractive thing, that’s my feeling.

“For me, Saturday is a huge win because our obligation with this club is to fight for silverware, to be with the top teams. We have reached the final. I put that pressure on myself and now we are starting to do that. To beat the two best teams in the country is great.”

Liverpool, remember, went from seventh in the table to within a Steven Gerrard slip of winning the title under Brendan Rodgers. Under Jurgen Klopp they went from 25 points behind City to leaving Guardiola and his players needing binoculars and radar to even find them.

As at Liverpool, players will want to jump on board as Arteta takes Arsenal on the road to recovery.

Arrogant midfielder Matteo Guendouzi – set to be sold unless he sorts himself out – would be a fool not to swallow his pride, pipe down and beg to remain part of what is clearly something special.

Arsenal do not need to win the Cup to prove something special is taking shape under rookie boss Arteta – but it certainly would help.