‘The FA Cup is a beautiful competition’

Nacho Monreal says the FA Cup is a “beautiful competition” and compares favourably to its equivalent in Spain.

The left back played a key role in Arsenal’s third-round victory against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month and is in the squad for the Coventry City game.

Monreal enjoys taking part in the competition, and says there are some key differences between it and the Spanish Cup.

“I knew that the FA Cup was the most famous competition of its kind in the world, but there were little aspects I wasn’t aware of, such as the games being played over one leg, and the fact that you could have replays,” he told the official matchday programme.

“It’s very different to the Spanish Cup, where teams take advantage of the opportunity to use players who haven’t been playing in the league, which is all they think about really.

“I think the FA Cup is a beautiful competition, very enjoyable, and I hope to have more chances to play in it this season."

Monreal’s FA Cup debut was in last season’s 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, and he insists there will be no repeat performance against Coventry.

“[That game] shows that you cannot relax and that all opponents can surprise you,” he said. ”The same happens in Spain; we constantly see that teams from lower divisions can beat La Liga teams.

“I remember that Blackburn game – we conceded from a rebound and had a lot of opportunities and were a bit unlucky, but it was proof that nobody can be underestimated.”