Arsenal Legend Predicts Spurs And Gunners FA Cup Double

Arsene Wenger said yesterday that his time as Arsenal manager could have come to an end if the Gunners had lost the 2014 FA Cup final to Hull.

Last term the Gunners knocked Bruce’s men out at the third-round juncture, just months after denying Hull their first ever major trophy with a 3-2 comeback win in the FA Cup final.

“If we had lost it I don’t know”. We had no television and we had to go to school where we had a black and white screen and we could watch the FA Cup final. “I have to make sure we’re fresh”.

Wenger, who signed a new three-year contract extension less than a fortnight after the victory, added: “Usually I respect my contracts and I fight for everything”.

On-loan Arsenal duo Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden will be ineligible to play for Hull against their parent club but Nick Powell, who is on loan from Manchester United, will make his debut. I remember watching him play for Wigan in the Championship when he was 18 or 19 and he did very well.

Hull certainly go into this match full of confidence having gone top of the Championship thanks to a good run of form that has seen them win five of their last seven games, losing just once.

If Arsenal do go on to win the Cup again this year, they will become the first team since Blackburn Rovers 130 years ago in 1886 to win it three times in a row.

“Elneny is fit”, said Wenger.

Arsenal face an FA Cup clash with Hull for the third consecutive season when lining up at Emirates Stadium tomorrow lunchtime and Wenger reflected on the 2014 final as a turning point for the club.

Laurent Koscielny was forced off after 45 minutes due to a dead leg against Leicester and, although the problem is not serious, Arsene Wenger may choose to rest players ahead of the Barcelona game. Arsenal beat the Tigers 2-1 in the sixth round that year before beating them again in dramatic style in the 2013/14 final.

‘No, there’s no pressure and I think that is why young players thrive here. We were on cloud nine after that, but they got a goal back to calm things down and once Arsenal are relaxed, that’s when they play their best football. The Gunners are now rated 7/2 favourites to win the competition and 10/1 for the FA Cup and Premier League double.