League Cup exit highlights areas for improvement as Arsenal target major trophies | OneFootball

Arsenal fell short against Newcastle United in the League Cup semi-final last night, failing to overturn a first-leg deficit and exiting with little resistance.

However, if they are serious about winning the trophies that truly matter, this defeat may be the best thing that could have happened.

With the League Cup out of the way, Arsenal’s focus must now be sharpened on the Premier League and Champions League.

Those are the competitions that define a club of their stature and are the trophies that will measure the success of this season.

They currently sit six points behind Liverpool in the league, having played a game more. It is not an ideal position, but it is also not insurmountable.

Arsenal must now put together a run of form that keeps them in the race and puts pressure on the leaders. Any slip-ups from Liverpool must be punished immediately.

In Europe, Arsenal’s strong league-phase performance has given them a direct path to the last 16.

They will not have to navigate the additional play-off round, meaning they can rest and prepare for the biggest games ahead.

Winning the Champions League remains a realistic target, with many top clubs struggling for consistency this season.

The defeat to Newcastle exposed familiar weaknesses such as a lack of cutting edge in key moments and vulnerability when forced into high-pressure situations.

These issues must be addressed if Arsenal are to stand a chance in the competitions that matter.

What happens next will determine how this campaign is remembered. If Arsenal use this exit as fuel to sharpen their focus, it could be the turning point that leads them to success.