FOOTBALL: FA Cup can be a boost - Ox

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
believes winning this season's FA Cup can act
as a catalyst for another era of success for the
club.
The Gunners have not won a trophy for eight
seasons but have a good chance to end that in
this year's cup, in which they face Wigan in
the semi-finals on Saturday.
England international Oxlade-Chamberlain,
20, insists that while the current squad are not
burdened by the weight of expectation, they
are all aware of the importance of breaking
their barren run.
"It is just good to get into winning ways, to
win a trophy, to be able to go the whole
journey as a team and win it, that is a massive
experience for a team like us, who are fairly
new together," he said.
"It is definitely a springboard and a confidence
boost going on to the future.
"Once you do get that experience of winning
the first one, you automatically build
confidence that you can go on and do that
again and again and again. That experience is
vital.
"I always hear commentators talking about
squads that have been around and that have
won things, they always mention the
experience of winning, and knowing what it
takes to win. They have only got that through
winning trophies, and winning competitions.
"That is definitely something that will help this
team to go on and push forward and be
successful in the future, but it is just getting to
that first one, and that is a lot easier said than
done.
"We are all desperate to win, there is no doubt
about that, but for me it is not so much that I
am really impatient, I am more interested in
trying to play as well as I can, and help the
team whenever I am needed.
"I believe that with the team that we have
here, it will come."
Despite Arsenal's status as favourites for the
last-four clash against Championship side
Wigan, Oxlade-Chamberlain says he and his
team-mates will not be underestimating the
Latics, who have already beaten Manchester
City en route to the semis.
"We don't think we are massive favourites and
they are underdogs. We know it will be really
hard," he said.
"If they can beat Man City, on their day they
can beat us, and it is our responsibility to
make sure that does not happen by not taking
anything for granted and approaching the
game in the right manner.
"We know what is in store and what they are
capable of, so we need to give them the
respect they deserve and do what we need to
do as a team."