Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that the FA Cup has always been important to the club under his tenure.
The Gunners won the competition for the fifth time in 18 years last season when they defeated Hull City 3-2 at Wembley, and are on course to defend their trophy ahead of their fifth-round match against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Wenger is adamant that the tournament is as vital to the club as ever, despite considering changes to his team to face Aitor Karanka's men.
He told reporters: "It is important to us and we have always taken it seriously. We did not always manage to win it, but we have won it five times during my period here. Nobody has won it more in the last 18 years, so we have always taken it seriously.
"Sometimes so seriously that we suffered in the Champions League after. Many times a cup game was in front of a Champions League game – for instance this week we play in the cup and then next week in the Champions League.
"Many times we lost some players. I remember against Manchester United when we played against Chelsea in the Champions League three days later we lost some because we took the game seriously."
Arsenal's triumph in the FA Cup last season ended their nine-year drought without a major trophy.
Simon Sinclair
