Ozil: Cup win can be springboard
Club record signing Mesut Ozil is convinced if Arsenal can overcome Hull to lift the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday, then more titles will follow.
The Gunners tackle Steve Bruce's side looking to end a near decade without silverware.
While the Emirates Stadium club have, of course, not stood still since Patrick Vieira raised the FA Cup aloft in 2005 at Cardiff, there remains a desire for something tangible to show for all of the hard work, which has seen Arsene Wenger's side secure another shot at Champions League football once again.
Ozil, signed from Real Madrid for B#43.5million in September, has just returned following a hamstring injury to provide a timely boost for Arsenal, who should have fit-again England midfielder Jack Wilshere available at Wembley along with Aaron Ramsey, although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is battling to overcome a groin problem.
The 25-year-old German playmaker feels once the Arsenal current squad get their first taste of success, it can prove a springboard for more.
"We are in the final and we want to take this silverware now. I am convinced we will achieve that," he said.
"We can win titles with this squad, this is very important for the fans as well because they have been waiting for so long.
"I am very proud of the team. We qualified for the Champions League and we are in the FA Cup final.
"If we can win the cup, then it will be a great season.
"However, it will be a tough game because Hull fights till the end - nowhere else other than in England are there so many teams who never give up."
Ozil could be one of three Germans in the Arsenal starting XI at Wembley, along with forward Lukas Podolski and defender Per Mertesacker, who scored a late equaliser in the semi-final which set up a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out against Wigan.
Twenty years to the week since lifting the FA Cup as captain of Manchester United, memories of that illustrious day still burn as intensely as ever for Hull boss Steve Bruce.
In an illustrious playing career which also yielded three Premier League titles and European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup honours, Bruce admits his three FA Cup winners' medals - the latter as a non-playing squad member in 1996 - have an extra-special place.
Preparing to head back to the Wembley showpiece for the first time as a manager, Bruce has been stressing the unique nature of the occasion to his Tigers players this week as they aim to add to the canon of famous FA Cup upsets.
Bruce said: "We must be rank outsiders, but that's the beauty of the FA Cup. Manchester City were huge favourites last year but Wigan came up and won the thing and that's why, for me, it's the greatest competition.
"For a club like ours to take on the mighty Arsenal has a fantastic ring to it. The club has never been there in its history, so it's a wonderful achievement. But you've got to try to grasp the occasion and enjoy it, because if you're not careful it just goes past you."
Bruce made his cup final debut in 1990 as United edged past Crystal Palace after a replay, and returned as captain four years later to marshal United to a stunning 4-0 final win over Glenn Hoddle's Chelsea.
After also captaining United in a 1-0 final defeat to Everton in 1995, Bruce was left out of the side for the 1996 win over Liverpool due to injury.
Bruce recalled: "My first one was in 1990 and it was the showpiece, the pinnacle of the season. There was a clamour of it and I'm reminded of the intensity and of the attention.
"It was over in a blur. Not many of them are married but I told the players it's a bit like your wedding day - before you know it you're married, and before you know it the FA Cup final's gone.
"The memories of the FA Cup are the ones you cherish when you've finished your playing career.
"The ones you really remember are your FA Cup days and, believe me, it's far better when you've won one than when you've lost one."
Source: PA
