Coach Arteta dreams of Arsenal winning the FA Cup

Coach Mikel Arteta has given an update on the conditions of Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori before the FA Cup 2025/26 trip to Portsmouth, expressing the desire to claim the trophy.

After a long period sidelined due to a serious knee injury since the start of the 2025/26 season, Kai Havertz has finally reappeared on the squad list. For Arsenal fans, this is incredibly good news. Havertz is not just a goal scorer; he is someone capable of making Arteta's system run smoothly.

In the pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta showed clear optimism: "Kai has trained very well, gradually increasing his workload and his body is responding excellently. It would be fantastic to have him in the squad in the coming days."

This return comes at a crucial time when Arsenal needs squad rotation the most, with a packed schedule of four consecutive away matches across all competitions. Regarding Riccardo Calafiori, Arteta confirmed that the Italian defender will not be part of the team for the match at Fratton Park. He stated: "I don’t think Riccardo will be able to participate. I believe that game is still too soon for him."

Looking back, Fratton Park holds unforgettable memories for Arteta. Nearly six years ago, Arsenal defeated Portsmouth there to advance straight to their 14th FA Cup title.

Reflecting on that memory, Arteta expressed his strong desire: "We definitely want that trophy again. It’s the target we are actively pursuing. That is the ultimate goal Arsenal is striving for."

Arteta also shared his satisfaction with the current working environment. He believes the connection between the coaching staff, players, and fans is the key foundation for conquering trophies:

"I am truly happy with where I am and the people I work with. I hope they understand that we are giving our very best in an effort to win as much as possible."