Mikel Arteta is keen on securing another FA Cup troohy at Arsenal as he prepares his side to face rivals Manchester United in the third round on Sunday at the Emirates.
Arteta’s first trophy at Arsenal as a player was the FA Cup in 2014 whey defeated Hull City in the final.
It was also his first as a manager back in 2020, when the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final at Wembley.
Despite Arsenal not going beyond the fourth round since lifting the trophy for a record 14th time five years ago, Arteta insists his team is fully focused on collecting a record-extending 15th, starting with the tie against the current holders and 13-time winners.
“It’s a massive part of our history,” the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “We’ve won it 14 times and it is a competition very attached to us.
“It’s a beautiful game to play against a massive club, and a very special occasion as well with the amount of supporters that they’re going to bring, so it’s a very big game.”
Arteta would hope to record another win against Ruben Amorim after getting the better of the Manchester United boss in their first meeting earlier in the season.
Two goals from setpieces secured a 2-0 win for Arteta’s side.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s game Arteta praised Amorim for how far he has come.
“When you look especially at the big teams [they’ve played], how they perform and the results that they’ve got, it’s very impressive,” he said.
“I know him well, I followed him a lot when he was in Portugal and there is a big reason why he is where he is at the moment, and he deserves to be there.”
