The FA Cup may never escape the stigma that is now attached to it. There will always be a question mark over whether the clubs, the players, the managers and the fans really care about it the way they used to. Does that ‘magic’ that was always associated with the cup still really exist?
Whether the FA Cup was a priority for all 92 clubs in the top four leagues is hard to say. For many, I’m sure that it struggled to compete with things like promotion, relegation and European qualification. But one thing is for certain, for the four clubs who are going to Wembley for the semi-finals, the cup is still very much a magical competition.
Just a few weeks ago Arsenal’s season had potential to be one of their best for years. Now, with the Mesut Özil stuttering and Aaron Ramsey injured, it is no coincidence that their season has begun to falter. Now they find themselves 4 points off of Premier League leaders Chelsea and have been eliminated from Champions League by Bayern Munich. For a team who have been without a trophy since 2005 the importance of the FA Cup cannot be understated.
Major threats like Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Spurs and Man United are all missing from these semi-finals and on paper the path seems clear for Arsenal to go on and win it. A failure in this competition now would surely knock their confidence in a similar way to their league cup final defeat to Birmingham City a couple of years ago.
On the other hand, a win would show that Arsenal are still very much capable of winning the best silverware. The Wembley pitch that will host the two semi’s and final itself is big, and favours the controlled brand of football that Arsène Wenger’s side play. It’s theirs to lose from this point on.
The magic of the FA Cup has certainly not been lost on Arsenal’s semi-final opponents Wigan Athletic. Last year’s winners suffered relegation from the Premier League but can still look back on the season fondly due to their historic cup win, beating giants Manchester City 1-0 in the final. Lightning struck for the second time as Wigan won 2-1 at the Etihad to advance to the semi-final.
With their chairman being a football traditionalist in Dave Whelan, they have a man at the helm who truly understands the history and value of the FA Cup. Even though Premier League survival would have been more financially rewarding. In Uwe Rösler Wigan also possess a young, ambitious manager who would certainly be looking to win a cup that eluded him during his playing career.
The other semi-final will see Premier League side Hull City meet League One’s Sheffield United.
Hull City have enjoyed a hugely successful return to the Premier League this season and already look to have secured their status in the top flight for next season. Despite a few off the field controversies Steve Bruce’s side have come a long, long way in an incredibly short space of time.
Winning the FA Cup though would be a huge achievement for a club like Hull City who have been away from the spotlight so much during their long history. Being one of only two Premier League teams left in the competition, they will feel like they have a good chance of doing exactly that.
It would be patronising to Sheffield United to say that they are just happy to be in the semi-finals but the fact is that it is an incredible achievement for a third tier team to have made it this far. It’s the kind of cup run that every neutral likes to see and is exactly the kind of occurrence that you associate with the magic of the FA Cup. The Blades are currently playing with a confidence that will not allow them to go into their semi-final with Hull simply to make up the numbers.
When Nigel Clough took charge of United on October 21st in League One they were in danger of relegation. Now they are 12th, 9 points off of the play-offs with 2 games in hand. They have been on an incredible run, including winning 10 of their last 11 games. They will go into their semi-final against Hull backed by a huge crowd at Wembley truly believing they can upset the odds and beat Hull. And rightfully so.
And I suppose that’s where the magic of the cup is. It’s in the knowledge that on any given day someone can upset the odds and spring a surprise. Wigan aren’t going to be backed by many to beat Arsenal. Although they wouldn’t have been backed by many to beat Man City in last years final either, or this weekend just gone for that matter.
It’s not played over the course of a season, it’s just one game. You don’t have to be the better team, you just have to be the better team on that day. And that’s what makes the FA Cup as magical as ever.