MAN ON A MISSION

Arteta fired up by last season's heartache

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MIKEL ARTETA insists it's his “mission” to knock Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup and deliver Arsenal's first major trophy in almost six years after last season's “painful” semifinal exit.

The Gunners failed to progress to last year's final following a 4-0 aggregate loss to Newcastle.

But Arteta said: “Football gives you another chance. We have been really consistent again in this competition and now we have to knock another big team out to be in the final. That is the mission.

“Hopefully we have learned from last year because it was painful, especially in the manner that the games went, and the amount of chances we missed to go through.

“So this year we want to be better and more efficient.”

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine matches but now face a Chelsea team re-energised by the arrival of new manager Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior oversaw an impressive 5-1 FA Cup win at Charlton in his opening match in charge.