Manchester United may be enduring a torrid season, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is still wary of improving his chances.
Arsenal host United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, with new boss Ruben Amory still finding his feet at Old Trafford but the Portuguese managed a 2-1 win over Manchester City in December. They drew 2-2 with Liverpool last week.
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For the fourth consecutive season, In support of the No More Red campaign, we will be wearing our iconic colors in white on Sunday.
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“How to play against big teams, Look at the performance and the results,” Arteta said.
“I know him (Amorim) very well. I followed him in Portugal and there is a big reason why he is where he is now and he deserves to be there.
“Every manager is appointed for different reasons. Sometimes it's to transform a football team.”
Arteta has fond memories of the FA Cup.
Arteta has transformed Arsenal and returned them to the elite of English football, but that has yet to translate into regular silverware in the 2020 FA Cup, the only trophy he has won as a manager at the Emirates. Twice as a player.
The competition has certainly lost some of its appeal, but Arteta is reminded of Arsenal's achievements, adding: “The memory of winning something and sharing it with people is the ultimate goal.”
Arsenal failed to finish off a number of chances in their 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, a game dominated for long periods.
After that, Arteta's comments have drawn a lot of attention, partly in view of the decline in football in the EFL Cup.
When asked today, he said, “We adapt. The Champions League is different. Every ball is different and has a different flight. That's not an excuse. Every pitch is different; The weather is different.”