Mikel Arteta pinpoints the problem behind Arsenal’s early FA Cup exits

Mikel Arteta has delivered a honest assessment of Arsenal’s poor record in the FA Cup, admitting that reputation alone does not win knockout ties.

Arteta Opens Up on Arsenal’s FA Cup Woes: “We Haven’t Been Good Enough”

The Gunners lifted the trophy at the end of the 2020 season, marking a high point in Arteta’s early tenure.

However, despite that triumph, the club has failed to reach the quarter-finals since. For a team with such a distinguished history in the competition, this recent downturn represents a sharp decline.

Under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal traditionally thrived in domestic cup competitions. The Frenchman built a culture of excellence in knockout football, and many supporters hoped that dominance would continue under Arteta.

Winning the FA Cup in 2020 provided immediate credibility for the young manager and strengthened belief in his long-term project. Yet, that remains the last trophy the club secured at the end of a season.

So, why have Arsenal struggled to impose themselves in a competition they once owned?

Speaking via Arsenal Media, Arteta addressed the issue directly. He refused to blame bad luck or the quality of opponents. Instead, he pointed the finger at his own team’s inconsistency.

“We haven’t been good enough on that day,” Arteta admitted.

“When you come to a competition, you have to be excellent on the day. The rest—the shirt that you wear, or the badge that you wear—is irrelevant.

So we’re going to have to prove that against Wigan again on Sunday.”

His comments reflect a clear understanding that history carries no weight once the whistle blows. Arsenal cannot rely on past glories to see them through.

They must produce performances that match their ambitions.

This season offers a fresh opportunity. Arsenal have already reached the Carabao Cup final, and progression in the FA Cup this weekend would keep hopes of an extraordinary campaign alive.

But as Arteta insists, talk means nothing. His players must prove on the pitch that they are once again a formidable force in knockout football.