Arteta challenges Arsenal to live up to their FA Cup history

Mikel Arteta is not dwelling on Arsenal’s dismal recent record against Manchester City ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Arteta took the reins at Emirates Stadium shortly after Pep Guardiola’ side sauntered to a 3-0 win in north London last December.

That was City’s seventh win in nine attempts against the Gunners during Arteta’s stint as Pep Guardiola’s number two, and the tale of misery continued as Arsenal went down to another 3-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium in their first game after the Premier League restart.

Indeed, City have won every match between the sides since losing at this stage of the FA Cup three years ago.

However, Arsenal head to the national stadium buoyed by victory over champions Liverpool – who boasted a similarly imposing head-to-head record before a 2-1 midweek reverse – and Arteta insists lingering on past failures is no way to approach their remaining shot at silverware this season

“It’s a different [City] team, we are a different team as well,” he said, having twice lifted the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger in his playing days.