Mikel Arteta loses his 'lucky charm' at Wembley in his fourth runner-up finish with Arsenal

Wembley Stadium was once a symbol of victory for Mikel Arteta. However, in the early morning of March 23rd, the place that once elevated his career became the breaking point for Arsenal's ambitions.

Entering the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal carried great confidence. Their stable form, convincing style of play, and supportive history led The Gunners to be expected to end their prolonged trophy drought. Before the match, Arsenal fans were even more confident knowing Mikel Arteta had never lost at Wembley in his seven previous appearances, both as a player and as Arsenal's manager.

Among these, Arteta had won the FA Cup twice with Arsenal (2013/14 and 2014/15) as well as two FA Community Shields (2014, 2015) while still a player. After returning to Emirates as head coach, he added one more FA Cup win (2019/20) and two FA Community Shields (2020 and 2023).

But the eighth time was different. Against a seasoned and cold Manchester City, Arsenal could not maintain their composure at the decisive moment. O'Reilly's double sealed the final with a 2-0 score, bringing City's ninth League Cup title in history and ending Arteta's winning streak at Wembley.

That was not just a defeat. It was a direct blow to the confidence Arsenal had painstakingly built over time. For many years, the North London club was often labeled as lacking nerve in critical stages. Under Arteta, they had clearly progressed, consistently competing at the top and nearing trophies but still faltered in the final phase.

This season, Arsenal has shown clear improvement, and fans expected The Gunners to break the curse. But this loss inadvertently revived old doubts. The defeat to Manchester City also marks Arteta's fourth runner-up finish with Arsenal as manager since the 2022/23 season. A number large enough to raise the question: is Arsenal truly ready to cross the final threshold?

Nevertheless, Arsenal's season is not over. They still have opportunities to compete in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. In theory, the defeat at Wembley is just a setback. But in reality, how they respond after this stumble is what will determine things.

Because for a team on a journey to reclaim its stature, sometimes the issue is not losing a final. It is whether they can rise after it or continue to be haunted by such moments.