Pain in the Arsenal
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3 reasons why Arsenal must focus their attention on cup competitions

  • Gunners can't keep up with Liverpool
  • The cups present a realistic ambition
  • Mikel Arteta needs to win a trophy
ByLennie Teague|
Arteta will need to turn his side's attention to the cups
Arteta will need to turn his side's attention to the cups | Richard Heathcote/GettyImages
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2. Broadening aspirations

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard
The Gunners squad need to expand their aspirations | Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

Since Arsenal first challenged for the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta in the 2022/23 season, they have shown no real ambition or aspiration to challenge for other competitions. Arteta has frequently insisted on playing backup players in the cups with no real desire to progress.

Lacklustre performances in the last two seasons saw them crash out of the Europa League and Champions League at the round of 16 and quarter-final stages respectively, while inexperienced sides faced early exits in domestic competitions. The Gunners have not made it past the fourth round of either the FA or Carabao Cup over the past two campaigns.

With the league title potentially out of Arsenal's grasp, shifting focus towards the cups will broaden the aspirations of both the squad and Arteta. The potential need to go full strength in cup ties from this point on will drill it into this Gunners side that the Premier League is not the only title to challenge for. It's not all about the league.

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