Mikel Arteta vowed to use the “fuel” of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City as a springboard to glory this season.
Arsenal’s quadruple dreams were dashed by a disappointing 2-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley 12 days ago.
However, the Gunners are still nine points clear in the Premier League title race and they will face Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Arteta’s side also travel to Sporting Lisbon for the opening leg of their Champions League last-eight match next week.
Arsenal’s defeat at Wembley raised serious questions about the club’s big-game mentality and left Arteta still awaiting his first trophy in nearly six years.
But the Spaniard said: “When you didn’t manage to win that final, what you have to take on board is: ‘Okay, how is this going to make us stronger for the final push of the season?’
“That has been the mindset and the only work that we have done in the last few days, to use that as fuel, as tools, to be able to get the final push that we want and achieve what we want. And immediately, I could sense that (from the players).
“Ideally you play again the next day and when you have an international break, it is not exactly what you want. But you have to use it in the right way.
“We analysed what we did, not just on that game, but the last 120 days, the amount of matches we have played, our winning ratio and all the things we have accomplished and gave some perspective, but also being critical about what we can do better to help the players and to win in any game and in any context.
“It will make us better and now we have to use it for the most important and beautiful part of the season.”
Arteta faced criticism after 10 injured Arsenal players were withdrawn across the international break, including three from England in Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke.
Arteta was guarded as to how many of those would be available for the trip to the south coast but defended Arsenal’s stance.
“When a player is fit and able to play, he has to play,” continued Arteta. “It makes us proud that we have that many players in the national teams and the players are desperate to play. We are fully supportive of that.
“We have a very good relationship and communication with most of the national teams and, as I have said, with (England boss) Thomas (Tuchel).
“We’ve been extremely supportive and when you have to communicate the state of every player, we’re always very honest and, at the end, it’s a medical decision and the conclusion was clear.”
Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie, and Madueke will all certainly miss the trip to Southampton. Madueke departed Wembley with his left knee in a brace after he was forced off during England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay last Friday.
But Arteta added: “It looked really, really bad and Noni was really worried. Only a few weeks ago he was out for six weeks, but he’s nowhere near that injury, so that is really good news.”
Put to Arteta that Tuchel claimed the former Chelsea man could be back available again within “days”, Arteta replied: “I think so.”
