LONDON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that winning the League Cup can boost the team’s morale to lift the English Premier League (EPL) trophy, with his men ready to welcome Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals, early Thursday morning.
Arsenal, who have been chasing the Premier League title since 2004, have finished as runners-up in the last two seasons behind Manchester City.
The north London club are currently in third place with 30 points from 16 matches and are chasing leaders Liverpool, who still have a game in hand with six points.
Arteta has yet to taste the League Cup since taking charge of Arsenal in December 2019, although he did win the FA Cup in the 2019-20 campaign.
“It will bring confidence, belief and a positive aura. Beating teams in the semi-finals and finals builds morale and creates the right path to do something else,” said Arteta.
Arsenal are ready to face Palace before facing the same team in the Premier League at Selhurst Park early this Sunday morning.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace are 15th in the Premier League but are unbeaten in five top-flight matches with their most recent victory coming against Brighton & Hove Albion.
“It’s always going to be tough. It’s another layer of difficulty, especially when you play a team twice in a row,” said Arteta.