Former England international Martin Keown spent 13 years with Arsenal over two separate spells.
During his time with the Gunners, the now-analyst for ESPN won three league titles and a further three FA Cups.
With Arsenal due to take on Swansea City in round three of the FA Cup this weekend, Sports Mole spoke with the 46-year-old to find out his views on Arsenal's lack of trophies, the January transfer window and the work of David Moyes at Everton.
It's getting on for eight years since Arsenal last won a trophy. How big would it be for the club if they can win the FA Cup this season?
"I don't think that we should be putting extra pressure on them. They will want that themselves for their own careers and they will know the expectations of the club. I don't think you go into a FA Cup match thinking about winning the competition. You go in to it thinking about beating the opposition that is in front of you and you sure as hell don't want them to be walking of the pitch celebrating in front of you.
"I think at the end of the season when the FA Cup final comes around - that prestigious day, shall we call it - you don't want to see somebody else pick up that trophy. I don't care who you are; if you're a professional in any sport you don't want somebody to beat you to a trophy. I hear people talking about the FA Cup and asking 'has it got the same prestige as the past?' Of course it has. When you come here to play in the English Premier League part of that includes the FA Cup.
"That comes with the territory. Everyone talks very proudly about this competition being unique and special to play in and that very much is the case. You see the reaction of the foreign players I played with, they loved it to bits. Those that embraced it, did well in it."
The Gunners don't have the easiest of ties this weekend in the form of Swansea City away. Having been defeated 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium by the Swans recently, will revenge be on the mind of the players?
"I think you nurture that from within. You want your players to feel hurt and want to respond – to bounce back really I suppose. I think looking back it was a game that Arsenal lost trying to win. In that particular game, there was a little bit of a kamikaze approach to going forward. It's about finding a balance and I think the players would have learned a lot from that fixture. As long as they can learn from it, grow from that experience and demand of each other, then it will be a good experience in the long run – although it hurt at the time. It's a chance to wipe the smile off some of the Swansea player's faces because it was a great result for them that day and they won't want to go out the FA Cup."
Not many teams win at Swansea. Would a draw and a replay be a good result?
"I don't think Arsenal will want a draw with them being a fixture behind in the Premier League, and having the Champions League, which kicks in again next month. They will be looking to do the job on the day – both teams will. If you're a goal down with a minute to go you'll take a replay but otherwise no."
We are at the beginning of the January transfer window. Are there any areas that you'd like to see Arsene Wenger strengthen?
"It is an interesting one because they have been without Abou Diaby for a while now. Jack Wilshere is back, [which is good] because they were looking a little bare in the midfield. I think that the decision needs to be made on Diaby regarding whether or not his fitness can be relied upon. His ability can, but he is not available often enough so that is one area they might look into [bolstering].
"I think centre-forward wise, Arsenal aren't too strong. They are now converting Theo Walcott but they are not like Man United, who have three or four of the best strikers in Europe – as have Man City. Arsenal haven't got that type of pool to select from. I think he might want to look at that as well with either a young striker he can nurture over someone that is the finished article.
"At the end of the day I'm not sure former players should be telling Arsene Wenger who he needs to buy and sell. At the end of the day he likes to give his players ample opportunity and doesn't want to block their path."
Another of your former clubs, Everton, have had the same manager since 2002. What have you made of the work that David Moyes has done at Goodison Park?
"I think it is commendable how long he has been there. David Moyes is always the Everton manager in a lot of people's eyes. He recently said that he'd like to work abroad but I like the way that he keeps adding players so that the team gets better and develops.
"He takes players that other clubs have looked at like Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka, but didn't want to pay the money. Phil Neville going there was a good one because it let's the rest of the squad know what is expected and he is a real driving force.
"The obvious player is Marouane Fellaini. They spent a lot of money on him and it was a big call for Everton to do that. But he has added something to the team and he keeps doing it each year. Even Steven Pienaar going back proved that Moyes wasn't going to manage in an orthodox fashion. He could have not signed him again but he saw Pienaar had made a mistake and took him back. You have to say that David Moyes is managing very well."
Can they win the FA Cup this year?
"That will be about [getting a] home draw and getting the right teams at the right time. They got to the semi-final last year and that will have been a painful experience, which might give them enough motivation to get there this time. I felt on the day [against Liverpool] they came up just short and didn't play their football. I made them the favourites without doubt. It was one of those occasions where Liverpool didn't have the best of starts but came good in the end. That will have hurt.
"I remember being on the pitch having somehow lost an FA Cup to Liverpool and vowing that we would be back there in 12 months. I know that it sounds cliché maybe, but we were genuinely saying that and we went on to do it."
You've won the FA Cup three times. How special was that on a personal level?
"They are right up there. I won three FA Cup medals and two doubles and for me you can't separate them because it is a joint achievement. I don't put one above the other because it was all special. I remember Don Howe telling me when I was an Arsenal youth team player that you get 10 chances at winning the FA Cup from the ages of 20 to 30 when you are at your best – you can't waste any of them.
"I took that onto the pitch with me and it was only really when I came back to Arsenal for a second time where I thought that I had a group of people around me that could make sure it happened. By that stage I only had five or six [chances] left but I was lucky to play in the FA Cup at 35 when we won it in 2003. It holds high memories for me. I don't believe for one minute players don't want to win it, because they do."
ESPN will air live and exclusive coverage of three FA Cup Third Round games this weekend. Swansea City v Arsenal at 1pm and Mansfield Town v Liverpool at 3.45pm on Sunday, then Cheltenham v Everton at 7pm on Monday. Visit ESPN.co.uk/tv for details.
Liam Apicella
