Arsene Wenger says he’s both excited and nervous about the FA Cup final as Arsenal look to upset the odds by beating Premier League champions Chelsea.
Today’s showdown at Wembley will be the Frenchman’s eighth final since he arrived in England in 1996 and he stands to become the competition’s outright most successful coach should his side lift the trophy this afternoon, a potential seventh of his reign. A win for the Gunners would also take the Gunners to 13 wins, one clear of Manchester United.
“It’s another big one,” Wenger told Arsenal.com ahead of the showpiece fixture.
“And of course it’s a final so everybody is always highly focused on that and you want to prepare your team to have a good chance to perform and win the game.
“It’s always difficult to predict but you know that the two teams will have qualities collectively and individually. So it will be certainly down to the performance on the day.
“The team that can find that extra focus, that extra little bit that makes you just get on the edge to win against a big opponent. So let’s prepare the squad and our team to be at their best on the day.”
Touching on the cup final experience, Wenger admitted that it’s a highly charged day.
“It’s a mixture of excitement and nerves,” continued. “You want to get as quickly as possible to the game and you just focus on every single detail that can help you to win the game. And knowing that once the game starts you can always win, lose or draw because that’s part of the game.”
It’s 19 years since the boss first won the FA Cup and despite Wembley being rebuilt in that time and the fixture moving to Cardiff for a few years, he admits the routine on the day of the final hasn’t changed too much.
“I discovered the ritual, the preparation on the day, walking out on the pitch and all that was absolutely new [in 1998]. I was stunned by the tradition and how much it means in the country.
“Since then it’s always just an exceptional and special occasion. To get there, the pride to get your fans there, your club there and of course to achieve something special.”
Here’s hoping that losing and drawing doesn’t come into it today…
What did she wear?
I’m not optimistic but would be great if we did it, even more so given the opposition and the place we are in.
Never in doubt.;)
Remember the feeling after the 2014 final?
Made me remember why I love Wenger and the Club. Both of those relationships have been eroded by lies and ommissions, but the fa cup is the fa cup.
I haven’t been to a match for the last 6 months but I wish more than anything I could go today. Winning the FA cup would be huge for the club, I just hope we do ourselves proud today.
Just a thought.. would we still play community shield if we don’t win today?
Chelsea play t’ham Hotsh*t if we don’t make this our 13th..
thanks
In answer to your question: She wore, she wore, she wore a yellow ribbon, she wore a yellow ribbon in the merry month of May…
And when I asked her why she wore that ribbon, she said “it’s for The Arsenal and we’re going ta Wem-Ber-Ley”……..
Has it been announced which kit we will be wearing? Presuming red since no kit clash
I want us to win so you can leave us in high.
But with the defense crisis right now, realistically we’ll lose, i just hope we won’t lose badly tonight, 2-0 at max please.
13 wins. HISTORY.
7 wins for Wenger. This is our CUP. We have never been strong in Europe. We have ALWAYS been strong in the cup. TRADITION.
Chelsea…Moses (left them wandering for forty minutes…never sees the promise land). Then there’s us. We blew them away. CLASS.
IRONY.
The media.
Blabbering on about how we should be winning trophies instead of the fourth spot pot.
The moment Liverpool wins the 4th spot trophy (for only the second time in 8 seasons with all sorts of new managers)…talk about consistency…it becomes suddenly important.
Almost as important as Ponchentinno’s over achieving second best trophy and Pep’s third best anonymity.
The FA cup is a BIG prize.
We beat City this year and eventually the most consistent team (NOT the best) in the land.
Open top bus celebration?
You’d be a complete wanker not to want it.
COYG!
It’s the second time under Le Prof that we’ve won the Cup three times in four years (previously in 2002, 2003, and 2005).
It was good to hear him acknowledge his pride in both having gone a league season unbeaten, and having won the Cup more than any other manager (Ramsey was at Aston Villa for 42 years to gain his 6 FA Cups). Specialist in winning!