Why Arsenal vs Crystal Palace could be one of the biggest games of Mikel Arteta's career

When Mikel Arteta signed his contract extension in September, his ambition was clear. “I would say a lot of major trophies."

It's been more than four years since the Spaniard won his sole major piece of silverware with Arsenal. No one can take Arteta's 2020 FA Cup winner's medal away from him, but the inherited squad and undefined style of play make the circumstances around that victory slightly detached.

When it comes to winning a trophy with his players, in his way, Arteta has been found lacking.

That's not to say the job he's done at the Emirates Stadium hasn't been remarkable. Arsenal have gone from back-to-back eighth placed finishes to back-to-back title races. Each year under the Spaniard they have improved in terms of points tally and it has taken arguably the best team in Premier League history to stop them from winning a title.

The good will this has bought Arteta is deservedly huge. The atmosphere has changed entirely around the club and his name is bellowed out home and away by Arsenal supporters. Now though, there is just the slightest hint at a chink in the armour of positivity Arteta has made for himself.

After Saturday's 0-0 draw with Everton boos rang out around the Emirates Stadium for the first time in years. A title race has quickly transformed from a hope to an expectation. Arsenal fans have entered an era where they are no longer happy to be simply challenging for trophies. They want to win them.

It is looking increasingly unlikely that that will happen in the league this season. Unless the Gunners find a consistency they have lacked all campaign, they will struggle to topple Arne Slot's impressive Liverpool side. And so, the cup competitions become hugely important. Arguably none more so than the Carabao Cup.

The League Cup has been historically looked down upon in north London. It is the only trophy Arsene Wenger never won, and the Frenchman often viewed it as a chance to rotate or blood the stars of tomorrow.

For Arteta though, it has opened up this season into a huge opportunity to win a first major trophy in half a decade. Manchester City are out. Chelsea are out. Tottenham play Manchester United. If Arsenal can negotiate the hurdle of Crystal Palace at home, then they will have a real chance of claiming a cup they haven't won in more than 30 years.

As far as Arteta is concerned, the chance to do that is about so much more than the trophy itself. The Spaniard has come from a culture at Pep Guardiola's Manchester City where every trophy is taken seriously. Arteta's mentor had the philosophy that winning breeds winning, and it's one that he shares.

"It generates belief," he told Sky earlier this month. "Experience that you already have of being successful helps the next one. If you maintain everybody's feet on the ground and maintain everybody's willingness it has that effect. So that's what we have to do."

A Carabao Cup would not have been top of anyone's wish list in the summer. Bizarrely though, this quarter-final with Palace has taken on a huge significance. It's not too much of a stretch to say that it is one of the most important games of Arteta's career.

Win, and he can create a snowball effect that leads to the dynasty he so craves at Arsenal. Lose, and the background noise of pressure may be about to get a little louder.

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