Mathieu Flamini says last season’s FA Cup victory has taught Arsenal what to expect in the competition.
The Gunners came from behind to lift the trophy in a memorable final against Hull City, but only after Per Mertesacker had rescued his side in the semi-final against Wigan Athletic.
Now, ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Reading on Saturday, Flamini has warned his team-mates not to underestimate their Championship opponents.
"It won’t be easy because we will play a very good team, but let’s start with the semi-final, let’s do the job properly and hopefully we will win it again this year"
Mathieu Flamini
“Wigan definitely [gave us a warning] which is why we know exactly what to expect,” the midfielder told Arsenal Player. “The FA Cup is a very tough challenge and you have to give everything to win it.
“We know it’s never easy to win a trophy and we are very focused. It won’t be easy because we will play a very good team, but let’s start with the semi-final, let’s do the job properly and hopefully we will win it again this year."
It was the second time Flamini had lifted the trophy with Arsenal, and the French midfielder revealed there were plenty of similarities between the victories in 2005 and 2014.
“The first time was a great moment,” the 31-year-old added. “I was at the club for three years and to win the FA Cup is always very important. It was a great moment, a great communion with the fans and I will always remember it.
“The second time was a chance [for me] to win a trophy straight away and there was a lot of emotion and happiness. The club didn’t have the chance to win it for many years, so I was very happy it happened the year I came back.”
Mathieu Flamini scores against West Ham United
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
