Mikel Arteta makes crushing admission over Arsenal's trophy chances after FA Cup exit | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has cast doubt over whether Arsenal have it in them to win "big trophies" following a costly week in they exited the FA Cup and are hanging by a thread in the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal haven't won major silverware since 2020 when Arteta masterminded an unexpected FA Cup triumph, although he contests that it is has been a total lack of trophies since.

The Gunners have struggled to keep pace with Liverpool in the Premier League title race, were beaten on penalties by Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and must overturn a 2-0 aggregate deficit against Newcastle United to avoid the same fate in the Carabao Cup.

Against Manchester United, Arsenal were unable to make a player-advantage count in almost an hour of play after Diogo Dalot was sent off in the second half.

Arsenal are suffering through a difficult run / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

"Obviously [we are] relying on not performing like this and waiting for one shot to go on target and score a goal. I don't want to bet on that. I bet on that team to try," Arteta replied when asked afterwards if his team are facing a psychological block.

"Are we going to win big trophies? I don't know. But playing like this... there are very few teams in the world that can play at that level."

Arsenal are still going strong in the Champions League after winning four of their opening six games, sitting inside the crucial top eight. But Arsenal's most recent European fixture came before the current domestic blip set in. Two final 'league phase' games against Dinamo Zagreb, 24th, and Girona, 30th, are still to come in the remainder of January.

The Gunners, having come through an injury crisis earlier in the season that affected form, are again struggling with availability due to Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and now Gabriel Jesus sidelined.