Beware of a shock defeat in the League Cup; Arteta reminds Arsenal that they must get the basics right.

The fourth round of the 2026/27 English League Cup will take place, with Premier League giants Arsenal traveling to face League Two side Fleetwood Town. Manager Mikel Arteta stated that respect for opponents is crucial in any competition, and a solid performance is essential to avoid a surprising defeat.

In the earlier Premier League match, Arsenal defeated Everton 2-0 thanks to goals from Konsa and Gabriel, securing their third consecutive victory and preparing for the League Cup.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, "Our reputation and self-esteem are all being tested. Whenever we play a football match, especially against teams from different leagues, we must respect the sport and every opponent, because they deserve that respect. Then we must strive to win the game and try to perform better than our opponents."

“At some point in our careers, we’ve all experienced unexpected defeats, and we’re aware of the risks involved. In football, once an opponent can match us in certain aspects, the gap between us can quickly narrow. Therefore, we must perfect our fundamentals and playing habits to win this match.”

Speaking about Arsenal striker Boris Dzekeresh, who is still without a goal, Arteta said, "Dzekeresh has done a lot of good things, and we need to keep it up. I think he also played a big role when he came on as a substitute in Munich, helping to change the game for the team, which is exactly what we expect from every player."

“And when Mosquera gets his chance, he always performs well. We’ve won some important games with him on the court, so we need him. The same goes for Lewis Skelley, only he plays a different role on the team. Based on his performance so far, we need him too.”

Image source: Internet