Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Arsenal FA Cup win would make it a 'better season'
Last updated on .From the section Football
2017 FA Cup final |
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Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Saturday, 27 May Kick-off: 17:30 BST |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, listen on BBC Radio 5 live and follow live text on the BBC Sport website |
Arsenal failed to "move forward with the other top teams" in the Premier League this season, says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as they prepare for the FA Cup final.
The Gunners missed out on a place in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after finishing fifth.
Arsenal face Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday (17:30 BST), with the Blues aiming for a league and cup Double.
"In football, winning trophies is what it is all about," said the midfielder.
"The season has been an odd one and if you look at the table, we finished on 75 points. In other years, that might have left us in a different situation.
"Times change and you have to move forward with the other top teams. We have failed to do that in the league and that is why we missed out on the top four.
"We wanted to finish higher up in the league, there is no doubting that. We cannot hide from that and we need to own up to that.
"The FA Cup is a big trophy, one we want to win and which would definitely boost morale going into next season."
The north London side's season has been beset by fans calling for manager Arsene Wenger to end his long association with the club.
The Frenchman has been with the Gunners since 1996 and said on Wednesday he "does not know" if the match against Chelsea will be his last as boss.
If his side win, Wenger will claim his seventh FA Cup - matching the number of times Liverpool and Chelsea have won it in. In addition, he has also won three Premier League titles.
As well as the manager, there has also been speculation surrounding the futures of star players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who both have one year remaining on their current deals.
Reports say Chilean Sanchez, 28, has been offered a new £300,000-a-week contract, while German Ozil, 28, has refused to sign a £250,000-a-week deal.
Striker Danny Welbeck said: "It is obvious to see how important [Sanchez] is to that team with his great abilities on the pitch and his attitude off it.
"I can't comment on his situation at the moment but it is not great to lose your best players."
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Winning a cup is better than not winning a cup?!?!?!?
Who'd have thunk it!! 😲
Can anyone tell me any football club where there is an American owner when they done better once they have taken the club over?
American owners are hopeless.
Finish 5th in the Premier League
6 times winning the FA cup
6 times winning the Community Shield
And the fans are not happy with the manager??????
Get a grip - my home town club is Sunderland would I swap your record for ours - in a heartbeat.
If our manager had even came close we would have pushed for sainthood for him!
The club has been standing still and been happy to retain a top 4 position without ever trying to improve the squad to an extent where a title challenge was a possibility.
Too little and far too late if they do win.
1 season, finish fifth, could still win FA Cup.
The record of the manager speaks for itself; the record of the current players, however...