Mikel Arteta has said he is ready to put Kepa Arrizabalaga back into the starting eleven for Arsenal’s FA Cup quarterfinal clash with Southampton.
The Arsenal manager’s comments come after Kepa’s mistake against Manchester City in Arsenal’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat a fortnight ago.
The 31-year-old has only featured in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and a Champions League match against Kairat this season.
Arteta Backs Kepa Despite Recent Error
Despite the error against City, Arteta seems prepared to stick with the former Chelsea man for the Gunners’ visit to St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday night.
“He is ready to play,” said Arteta.
“I’m never going to judge a player or make a decision because he has made an error. Attitude, behaviour, yes, 100 per cent, but an error is part of football, and anybody can do it.
Kepa has played every minute of Arsenal’s FA Cup campaign so far.
Arteta said that Kepa has received support from his team-mates, staff and supporters.
“I don’t know if he needed it [an arm around the shoulder], but he has had it. Just in case. From all of them. From his team-mates first, then myself, all the staff, and hopefully all our supporters.
“I don’t think he needed it because he’s got so much experience, and he’s been through all kinds of different scenarios in his career, so he’s more than ready to play.”
Arsenal Aim to Rebound in FA Cup
Arsenal’s quadruple hopes were dashed by the 2-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.
However, the Gunners are still nine points clear in the Premier League title race and will face Sky Bet Championship side Southampton for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Arteta’s team also travel to Sporting Lisbon for their Champions League last-eight first leg next week.
Wembley Defeat a Learning Experience
The defeat at Wembley has raised questions about the club’s mentality in big games.
Arteta is still awaiting his first trophy in nearly six years.
Reflecting on the defeat, Arteta said: “It’s like a ball of poison that you have in your tummy. But take that out as quick as possible, and how can I use that to make myself better, to make the team better?
“It’s not going to go in the next 30 years because when you have the opportunity to win a final in Wembley, you have to get it done.
“So that has to stay there. And that’s part of who you’re going to be in the next few weeks, in the next few months, in the next few years. Learn from that and make sure that that fire is still in Wembley, remembering what happened.
“That has been the mindset and the only work that we have done in the last few days, to use that as fuel, as tools, to be able to get the final push that we want and achieve what we want. And immediately, I could sense that [from the players].
“It will make us better and now we have to use it for”
Arteta wants to use the defeat as fuel to get the final push that they want and achieve what they want.