Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal’s defeat by title rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final last month left him feeling like he had a “ball of poison” in his stomach but has vowed to use that painful experience to ensure his team ends the season with silverware.

Arsenal were totally outplayed in the second half at Wembley a fortnight ago as two goals for Nico O’Reilly enabled Pep Guardiola’s side to land a psychological blow over the Premier League leaders and end their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple. Arteta refused to confirm whether Kepa Arrizabalaga would start against Southampton in the sixth round of the FA Cup at St Mary’s on Saturday evening after the reserve goalkeeper’s mistake led to O’Reilly’s opener.

But having still not won a trophy since his first season in charge, the Arsenal manager insisted their defeat to City would haunt him for “the next 30 years”.

“During the first part, it’s like a ball of poison that you have in your tummy,” said Arteta when asked whether he had spent the international break stewing over the final.

“Take that out as quick as possible. How can I use that to make myself better, to make the team better? There is a part that I think has to be there and I think this is not going to go in the next 30 years. Because when you have the opportunity to win a final in Wembley, you have to get it done. So that has to stay there.

“And that’s part of who you’re going to be in the next few weeks, in the next few months, in the next few years. Learn from that and make sure that that fire is still in that belly, remembering what happened.”

Arteta – who playfully suggested that his goalkeeper against Southampton would be “European, under 32, right-footed and speaks at least two languages” – has been criticised for not selecting his preferred No 1, David Raya, at Wembley and sticking with Arrizabalaga. But given that the former Chelsea goalkeeper started in Arsenal’s FA Cup victories against Portsmouth, Wigan and Mansfield, he is expected to get the nod again despite his costly mistake against City.

“I’m never going to judge a player or make a decision because he’s made an error,” said Arteta. “Attitude, behaviour, yes 100%. An error is part of football and anybody can do it. He’s got so much experience and he’s been through all kinds of different scenarios in his career, so he’s more than ready to play.”

Otherwise Arteta kept his cards close to his chest regarding whether any of the 11 players who withdrew from international squads last week would face Southampton, although he did confirm Thomas Tuchel’s assertion that Declan Rice is operating at only 70% fitness and that has “been going on for a while”. Piero Hincapié and Noni Madueke are both out of the Southampton game– though Arteta is hopeful the latter will return in time for next week’s trip to Sporting in the Champions League – while Martin Ødegaard and Jurrien Timber could be in contention to play.

“I think it’s part of the narrative. But I understand that,” said Arteta of the criticism Arsenal have received from some quarters for the large number of withdrawals.

“I hope it’s been the same when we had a lot of players from the national team injured in the past. The same emphasis. Because then it’s a fair comment. So, it’s fine. Let’s see who is available or not tomorrow and maybe we have to change the narrative.”