Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his side will use the “magical” feeling of reaching the League Cup final to drive their Premier League title push, following a dramatic semi-final victory over Chelsea.
The Gunners sealed a 4–2 aggregate win with a 1–0 triumph in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, as Kai Havertz struck with virtually the last kick of the game.
The result ended a painful run of semi-final exits for Arsenal, who had previously fallen short in the 2025 Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.
It will be Arsenal’s first cup final appearance in six years, with a Wembley showdown scheduled for March 22 against either Manchester City or Newcastle. City currently hold a 2–0 advantage ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal’s season continues to gather momentum, with the club sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League and having qualified for the Champions League last 16 after winning all eight group-stage matches.
Arteta said the emotional lift from reaching the final would be vital as the team continues to compete on multiple fronts.
“Well, it’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we’re playing every three days,” he said.
“The fact that you work so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together, it’s just magical, because you can see the joy, the smile, the energy in the dressing room and everybody who works at the club.
“Winning helps in every sense. Confidence, energy, you call it. We’re going to be there in a few weeks.
“In the meantime, we know that we need to just put it aside, because three days later, we’re going to have a massive game here in the Premier League, and we’re on all fronts. That’s where we want to be. So let’s keep moving.”
The roar that greeted Havertz’s late goal, and Arteta’s celebrations on the pitch, underlined how significant the moment was for Arsenal supporters who have waited years for silverware.
Arsenal have not won the League Cup since 1993 and lost their last three appearances in the final. Victory at Wembley would deliver the club’s first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
Arteta, who previously worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, said cup success can play a crucial role in shaping a title-winning mentality.
“We are so happy. Over the two games, we deserved to go through. We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the manner that he did and the reaction from the crowd,” he said.
“The players give us every day their reasons to trust them and to play them and to make sure that they feel part of that. We have an excellent group. The quality, obviously, is there.
“This is about learning from previous experiences. The way the team competed and understood what we had to do was really impressive. And now let’s win the final.”
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, meanwhile, described the defeat as a disappointment but urged his team to respond positively.
“We’re disappointed not to go through, albeit against a very good team, but we can’t let this set-back affect our future,” he said.
