Cup run will help us pick up winning habit
Arteta aims to get fans onside again
MIKEL ARTETA wants to use an FA Cup run to foster an ‘addiction’ to winning at Arsenal — and believes success in the competition will be a key factor in rebuilding broken relationships with their fanbase.
The Gunners entertain Leeds United tonight with their Premier League campaign in an abysmal mess, so the onus increases on a protracted involvement in the world’s oldest national football competition.
While Leeds could justifiably see the cup as a distraction from their prime aim of promotion to the top flight, and can be expected to field a weakened side, Arteta has talked up its importance.
Arteta, who won the FA Cup twice as an Arsenal player, including the 2013 triumph that ended an eight-year wait for silverware, drew a parallel between the unease of that era under Arsene Wenger and the club’s current situation.
He said: ‘When I arrived here (in 2011), we were fighting for the Premier League at the time but did not have the level to compete and sustain it.
‘So the cups become important and obviously this club has a massive history with that. But then, we had eight years without winning anything.
‘For us, to lift that FA Cup was a huge relief. It generated good belief and unity around our team and helped that group of players to achieve what they achieved later when they won other cups.
‘Winning brings togetherness and when you have beautiful experiences together, and you win trophies, then those experiences stay within that group.
‘You like more the people that you work with, you believe more in them, you share some fantastic moments and that habit of winning, winning, winning… after you win, you don’t want to stop winning. You become addicts to that and that’s what we have to try to implement at this club.’
On a mission to reunite the fans with the club via a cup run, Arteta said: ‘When you take the fans to Wembley, it’s a totally different scenario, they are proud of it, it’s a special day, they travel with their families, they are looking for success again for this club.
‘They are used to that, there’s a history related to that. I think it generates something special.’
The Spaniard admitted he will be unable to fulfil his ambitions at
Arsenal if he fails to get the fans onside.
‘No, it’s impossible,’ he said. ‘It’s too powerful. With the fanbase we have, with our history and how much these people have been with this football club, if we get that connected, it’s powerful. Without that, I think it’s impossible.’
Meanwhile, Leeds winger Ezgjan Alioski has dismissed suggestions Arsenal are resurgent under Arteta — belittling their win over Manchester United.
‘Yes, I saw the result against Manchester United but this Manchester United from this year
— even we can beat them,’ quipped Alioski. The 33-times capped North Macedonia international does not lack confidence and, as if to emphasise the point, suggested the third-round tie would soon become run of the mill for the current Championship leaders.
‘If we are in the Premier League, Leeds will be one of the biggest clubs, like they were before,’ he added. ‘Of course, it’s a big game. Maybe one of the biggest but I don’t see it making me nervous to think that. I hope I can have mostly bigger games than this.’
Some might view the FA Cup as a distraction for a club aiming to end a 16-year exile from the top flight, particularly given their near-miss last season.
But Alioski countered: ‘No, it’s a game. Only the name changes, to cup and not league. We have a coach who knows how to prepare us in the cup and in the league. Marcelo Bielsa let Leeds dream again.’
Alioski will switch from left-back to a more advanced position in a Leeds side showing four changes from the 1-1 draw at West Brom last week with teenage French goalkeeper Illan Meslier and defender Robbie Gotts, 20, both making their debuts.