Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal trophy expectations ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final

Mikel Arteta has admitted he is expected to deliver a trophy this season.

Arteta is battling a growing injury crisis after teenager Ethan Nwaneri was ruled out until the end of the month amid a long list of absentees ahead of their Carabao Cup semi final with Newcastle. But Arteta insists that he is still under pressure to win silverware as they face a defining week in their season with Tuesday's Newcastle tie followed by the FA Cup showdown with Manchester United on Sunday.

Gunners boss Arteta has won just one major trophy - the FA Cup in 2020 - in his five years in charge but says he accepts he has to deliver again this season. The domestic cups could be their best bet as they are six points behind Liverpool in the title race and Arne Slot ’s men also have a game in hand.

Arteta said: “Would I like it? For sure. Expected? I don’t know because we know the level of opposition that we have in games. But as a club we have to expect to win and win every year, for sure. We work every single day to achieve that to bring joy to our people and there is not a single moment that stands out more than when you have that cup and you are offering that cup to the supporters and you are sharing it with the people you work with every day.

“It’s the icing on the cake. They are memories that stick in your mind and hopefully we can create many more.” Arsenal will have to overcome a long absentee list to beat Newcastle. They are without Bukayo Saka for the long term, Raheem Sterling is also out while Kai Havertz has missed the last two games through illness which remains an issue in the camp.

Nwaneri, 17, is the latest to be hit with another injury blow - he is out for around three weeks with a groin issue - and Arteta said that he only had eight outfield players to work with in training on Monday. Martin Odegaard was unable to start at Brighton on Saturday because of the illness.

Arteta said: “Today we had seven, eight players with us and just [had] to fill the squad, which is unknown. But it is a way to learn as well, this is how I take it. I cannot change it, so let’s take the things that we can get out of them to be better.

“We just [had] to fill the squad, which is unknown. It’s a very good learning process, not only tactically but with preparation and training with very few players.”

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