Nacho Monreal says Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Chelsea is an opportunity for Arsenal to move on from their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Despite a 3-1 win against Everton on the final day of the season, the Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League table and will have to settle for Europa League football for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s tenure.
Monreal is yet to taste defeat at Wembley since moving to the Emirates in 2013 and particularly enjoyed the last visit when he scored an important equaliser against Manchester City in the semi-final.
Speaking to the FA for the official matchday programme, the Spaniard played up the importance of the upcoming showpiece fixture; a match that resonates with English fans of all generations.
“Obviously, we have good memories [of Wembley],” said Monreal.
“It’s very important for the club, but also if we win and we are part of the team who have won The FA Cup for the record, that’s important in the history of the competition and the club.
“We want to do it and we know that it’s going to be very difficult, but we can do it.
“When we won the semi-final, we knew we would be coming back for the Final and that is very important for the fans because this competition means a lot for English people.
“It’s a very important trophy and we have the opportunity to win it again. We all know that Arsenal fans are waiting for the Final now, because it’s been a difficult season for us.
“We have the opportunity to forget what has happened in the league and be focused on the Final.”
Looking back at his goal-scoring intervention versus City, the 31-year-old added:
“Normally, I don’t score too many goals so to get the opportunity to score at Wembley when everyone knows what that means, it was a good moment for me and for the club.
“We knew that it was going to be a difficult game against Manchester City because they are a good team, but we found a good moment.
“I think the mentality of the players changed after the first [Aguero] goal, we pressed high and started to have more of the ball and I was happy because I had the opportunity to score and get us back in the game and finally we won, so it was a good day.”
Monreal is a decent player. Like him a lot.
Arguably one of, if not the, most consistent player in our team this year, yet again. Puts in an absolute shift every game, both defensively and offensively. Overlapping runs down the wing – he’s there, chasing back to stop a counter-attack – he’s there. Whether it’s centre half, full back or wing back he does the job. Versatile and professional. Whatever you may say about other players in this team, you really cannot question Monreal’s commitment.
He gets my vote as player of the season. Again. Everything you said is true. The main one is his consistency, he performs at a decent level every game. Every game.
I’d love this lineup if Mustafi is healthy:
Cech
Holding Mert Mustafi
Bellerin Xhaka Rambo Monreal
Ozil Sanchez
Welbz
Monreal is a much better LWB than Gibbs.
To think we got both Nacho and Santi for £ 25 mil is beyond crazy. Arguably the two most consistent players for us (when fit of course) in the last five years.
nacho monreal is a legend.
Defenders are usually valued less but how we got a magician like Santi for 12 million still makes me wonder. Our season would’ve been very different had he been fit.
Nah. Probably not. Santi has been fit most other seasons and we’ve still spectacularly capitulated. Maybe we need to stop blaming the injuries, the luck, the referee’s, the lack of fan support… Maybe there’s another common denominator. Or we could just keep making excuses for the old man…
Please stop with all the facts and just get behind the team. Thanks.
Seriously. You people…
https://youtu.be/55fqjw2J1vI
We should have got Eriksen but, I dont how we Wenger passed on the opportunity to sign him, would have been a perfect cover for Santi
Not making excuses for him and part of the criticism of him is how he managed Santi. Should’ve got a similar player to Santi along with Xhaka in the summer. I don’t think he should continue as manager but he probably will sign a 2 year deal. Not much we can do about that right?
Your hindsight is very perceptive.
Fact that you were alive the last few years meant you are a common denominator too.
Haha
One of the few who has stepped up and shown a bit of fight in the tough times weve had. Credit due for that. Another strike at wembley on saturday would be very welcome. Smash the cunts.
Nacho to captain the side on Saturday?
Wouldn’t have a problem with that. Been a star – and a leader – all season
Mertz will hopefully take his captains armband off, to choke diego with
You’d think Mustafi has been stricken by the plague or something…
…………………………….Giroud………………………………..
…………….Ozil…………………………..Alexis………………..
Ox………………..Granit………..Ramsey……………..Bellerin
…………Monreal…………Mustafi…………..Holding…………
……………………………..Cech………………………………….
I Dont get why sanchez can’t go upfront he was outstanding there which frees up a spot for ramsey to play his favourite cam position and then add coquelin in as defensive shielding?
What has been interesting with Alexis lately is that in this deeper attacking position, he gets the ball in very dangerous areas on the counter. Being the focal point of the attack sometimes sees him chasing shadows and being less involved. With him and Ozil behind a striker they seem to cause real havoc.
FA cup nah. Arsenal Fan TV people won’t want it.
Given the choice they’d rather have Second best trophy and CL, or 3rd place and no cups, or 4th place now media endorsed pot and no cups.
Regardless of where people rank the FA Cup, winning any competition you are in is the goal. And fans should support that, regardless.
Simply not true, and something that the pseudo-intellectuals on here (and elsewhere) like to pretend the people that go on Arsenal Fan TV say. They may be over the top in their reactions to games/the club in general, but most of what they say is exactly what others (who may be able to put it more eloquently) think.
The regular commenter who is the most eloquent on the channel actually talks the most nonsense, but because he is more articulate, fools people into thinking otherwise. Like other people I can mention.
Monreal, another great David Dein buy who has improved under Wenger…like Koscielny.