Gunners lasted tasted success nine years ago in the FA Cup.
Under-pressure Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger says that he always plays the game to win trophies, as opposed to trying to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, which many of his critics believe is more important to the Frenchman than actual silverware, reports the Daily Mail.
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The experienced Gunners boss was speaking ahead of his side’s massive FA Cup semi-final against Championship outfit Wigan Athletic at Wembley on Saturday, a match the north London club dare not lose as they seek to win their first trophy since 2005.
“We have always tried to attack because we have a team with that ability,” said Wenger. “What has been strange this season is that for a long time we looked very strong defensively.
“We had an outstanding defensive record and lost it suddenly. That’s the surprise for me.
“We all play to win something. The Champions League was vital for us, with survival at the top the minimum requirement. But do not imagine I sacrifice every day of my life not to win a trophy. Everybody fights for that.
“It is a dream open to everyone, and that is the beauty of the FA Cup. Last year, Wigan won it. Sheffield United are in the semi-final. We can talk and talk, but we all know the biggest teams will win the league.
“If you play basketball or rugby — any other sport — you cannot open the dream. In basketball if you play against a team from division two there is absolutely no chance, unless you give them 30 points. Only our sport can create that excitement because it is uncertain.
“When I was a kid, the FA Cup was one of the competitions you could watch in black and white on television. I remember exactly the place where I sat at school. We had to pay one franc to watch.
“What struck me at the time was that the ball was white and the pitch was perfect — I played in a village where the pitch was a disaster. The players had their hair well-combed and the managers were relaxed, and they joked together on the bench.”