The FA Cup holds special memories for Mikel Arteta.
When he was brought to Arsenal from Everton by Arsene Wenger during that late trolley dash in the 2011 summer transfer window, the Gunners had gone six years without a trophy.
But less than three years later that drought was ended in dramatic style at Wembley as Arsenal came from two goals down to beat Hull City 3-2 to lift the FA Cup for what was then a record-equalling 11th time.
Aaron Ramsey may have been the hero thanks to his extra-time winner, but it was Arteta who captained the side on that emotional afternoon as London’s most successful club brought an end to their long wait for some silverware.
And he knows better than most just how important that victory was and how it helped the club go on to lift the cup again in 2015 when Aston Villa were thumped 4-0 in the final, and also in 2017 when Ramsey was the hero once again, this time scoring the winner to sink Chelsea 2-1.
“When I arrived here we were trying to fight for the Premier League. At the time we didn’t quite have the level to sustain every year to do that so the cups became very important,” said the Spaniard, who will take charge of his first FA Cup tie as Arsenal head coach on Monday night against Leeds United at Emirates Stadium.
“Obviously this club has a massive history with that and it was years without winning absolutely anything. For us to lift that first FA Cup for this football club was a massive relief.
“It generated a really good belief and unity around our team. That helped that group of players to achieve what they achieved later when they won other cups.”
That success against Chelsea remains Arsenal’s last major trophy, with the Gunners losing two finals since then - in the Carabao Cup in 2018 and the Europa League in 2019.
GOAL
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