{"id":489,"date":"2026-03-18T16:01:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=489"},"modified":"2026-03-18T16:01:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:01:03","slug":"kepa-vows-to-open-arsenals-trophy-cabinet-and-keep-it-open-in-quest-for-quadruple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/?p=489","title":{"rendered":"Kepa vows to open Arsenal&#8217;s trophy cabinet&#8230;and keep it open in quest for quadruple"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_a12813\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal&#8217;s No 2 Kepa Arrizabalaga is in line to start for the Gunners at Wembley on Sunday, as they look to land the first leg of an unprecedented quadruple by beating Manchester City<\/h2>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36449964\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mikel Arteta\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449964.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2252666061.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449964.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2252666061.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449964.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2252666061.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449964.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2252666061.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta is expected to name Kepa as his starter at Wembley this weekend\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta is expected to name Kepa as his starter at Wembley this weekend<cite aria-label=\"Image: Adrian Dennis \/ AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Adrian Dennis \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga says the Gunners want to open their trophy cabinet on Sunday &#8211; and keep it open for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Gunners are still in the hunt for a remarkable quadruple and have a chance to strike a blow against their biggest title rivals Manchester City at Wembley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gunners No2 Kepa, who is set to play in the Carabao Cup final, believes success in the Carabao Cup final can give them a taste for winning &#8211; and put them in the mood for more success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal are nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League, they are into the Carabao Cup final and have a quarter final FA Cup tie at Southampton ahead of them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They also reached the Champions League quarter finals while City crashed out and a win on Sunday could also strike a real confidence blow and lay down a marker for the rest of the campaign.<\/p>\n<article class=\"Teaser_teaser__XImzE OpinionTeaser_teaser-opinion__u0ZfS\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36884271\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser\">\n<div data-testid=\"opinion-teaser-image\" class=\"Teaser_cover-wrapper__VVV7O\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884333.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s540\/0_GettyImages-2266593947.jpg 540w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884333.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_GettyImages-2266593947.jpg 650w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884333.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s948\/0_GettyImages-2266593947.jpg 948w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884333.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_GettyImages-2266593947.jpg\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><label data-testid=\"label\" class=\"Label_label__pFaDj Label_secondary__nOPjT label--section-color\"><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Label_text__tRLWj\">OPINION<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"OpinionTeaser_content-wrapper__TVVPL OpinionTeaser_large__m6_Lk\">\n<div data-testid=\"teaser-author\" class=\"TeaserAuthor_author__h_bIR TeaserAuthor_large__QjYde\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article2206564.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/john_cross.png\" alt=\"Author avatar\"\/><span class=\"TeaserAuthor_author-name__YmKL2\">John Cross<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_44230e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Arsenal&#8217;s path to Champions League final suddenly becomes clearer<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kepa said: \u201cWe have big players who have played in big games, in finals, in the Euros, in the World Cup, in the Champions League. We know what it is to play in big games every three days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cManchester City have great players in every position, they are one of the strongest teams without a doubt. They have a lot of different options and depth of quality. For us though, hopefully this could be a way for us to open our trophy cabinet, and to keep it open.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kepa has played in two League Cup finals before but finished on the losing side in 2019 and 2022 well before his move to Arsenal. He is now understudy to Arsenal No1 David Raya but has played through the rounds in the domestic cups and is fully expected to start Sunday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kepa, the penalty shot-out hero in the quarter final win over Crystal Palace, will bring his own experience into the game and is preparing to relish the opportunity.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36449924\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36449924\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.71\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kepa Arrizabalaga of Arsenal saves the eighth penalty from Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449924.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2253316162.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449924.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2253316162.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449924.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2253316162.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36449924.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2253316162.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Kepa was the hero as the Gunners beat Crystal Palace earlier in the competition\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Kepa was the hero as the Gunners beat Crystal Palace earlier in the competition<cite aria-label=\"Image: Clive Mason\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Clive Mason\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He added: \u201cThe atmosphere at Wembley is so special, everything around the game is special &#8211; the build-up and everything. You know you are out there playing for a title, and right now in this moment of football, every title is so difficult to get.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou know you are one game away to be able to lift a trophy. Obviously, it\u2019s going to be a tough game, a very difficult game, but we\u2019ll go for it. I have played in the League Cup final before, but I have played many finals in my career, I have been lucky in that way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cSo I will just approach the game the best way that I can. We will prepare everything in the best way, because at the end the aim is to win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cJust focus on the game, focus on us and prepare for the opponent. That\u2019s it. I don\u2019t think we need to approach anything differently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie says their Champions League win over his former club Bayer Leverkusen &#8211; including Eberechi Eze\u2019s wonder strike &#8211; will really put them in the mood for the rest of the campaign.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36884234\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36884234\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.49\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal had the perfect prep for Sunday's Wembley showdown after making light work of Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884234.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884234.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884234.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36884234.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Arsenal had the perfect prep for Sunday's Wembley showdown after making light work of Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Arsenal had the perfect prep for Sunday&#8217;s Wembley showdown after making light work of Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League<cite aria-label=\"Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hincapie said: \u201cI&#8217;m really excited to have qualified for the quarter-finals with my club. I&#8217;m also a bit sad because we played the phase with my former club. But this is football and I&#8217;m really happy now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWe&#8217;re really focused on the final on Sunday, which is a very important final. We&#8217;re going to train very hard to get to the final in the best way possible and to win the title. That\u2019s the most important thing. We&#8217;re very focused on wanting to win it, but we have to work hard to win the title.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt was a good goal. Fantastic. It was amazing. I didn\u2019t know it was his first goal. 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