Mikel Arteta is eyeing FA Cup success with Arsenal as the club prepare to begin their campaign with a third-round clash against Championship league leaders Leeds United this evening.
The new Arsenal head coach will take charge of his first cup fixture as the Gunners welcome Leeds to the Emirates tonight, the club seeking to continue their recent improvement since the 37-year-old’s arrival with another impressive performance.
Arteta won the competition twice during his time as a player with the North London side, and believes further success in the FA Cup for the record 13-times winners can help create a ‘belief and unity’ at Arsenal, as the club bid to become regular challengers for major silverware once more.
“When I arrived here, obviously we were trying to fight for the Premier League but we did not really have the level to compete and sustain it every year,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.
“So the cups become very important and obviously this club has a massive history. But we’d had [nine] years without winning absolutely anything.
“For us, to lift that first FA Cup for this football club was like a massive relief that they tried to get this club again fighting to win some trophies and be there for everybody to see. It generated a really good belief and unity around our team and that helped that group of players to achieve what they achieved later when they won other cups.”
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