Arsene Wenger stands on the brink of history on the eve of Arsenal's FA Cup Final clash with Aston Villa. Should Arsenal win at Wembley on Saturday evening the Frenchman will become the first manager post-war to lead his team to six FA Cup triumphs, and his side will be the first to win the famous old trophy a dozen times.
Currently, Wenger is tied with Manchester United's Alex Ferguson on five victories but his Arsenal side are favourites on Saturday, and if the final goes to form there will be another title to add to the ones Wenger celebrated in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2014.
Additionally, victory for Arsenal would bring Wenger level with George Ramsay – who, coincidentally, was manager of Aston Villa for extraordinary 42 years between 1884 and 1926 – as the only boss to oversee six FA Cup final successes.
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The last of Ramsey's FA Cup wins with Villa was in 1920, and since then the Midlands club have won the trophy on just one further occasion, in 1957. Arsenal, have been late bloomers in the cup compared to Villa, winning their first FA Cup in 1930 under the legendary Herbert Chapman. But since then the Gunners have added ten more titles to equal Manchester United's 11 FA Cup triumphs. Victory would put them one in front of United with 12 successes to their name.
With so much history at stake, Wenger is keen to play down the past and concentrate on the present. "I would love to do it but I'm not honestly focused on that," he replied, when asked about surpassing Ferguson's record of five wins.
"I'm more focused on the fact that we have fought so hard to get there. Now we want to finish the job. Personally I am always the same when I go into a big game like this. I have always the same pressure. I just want to do it."
After a wretched first half of the season, culminating in Arsenal fans verbally attacking their manager, the Gunners have finished strongly and victory over Villa would cap their most successful season for a decade.
"It's not easy to get to the FA Cup final and it's not easy to finish in the top three in England," explained Wenger. "We have been remarkably consistent since January and that's why I think we have a good chance."
Arsenal are overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers after thrashing Villa 3-0 and 5-0 in their two Premier League encounters this season, although both defeats were inflicted before the arrival at Villa Park of Tim Sherwood.
The former Blackburn and Tottenham midfielder replaced Paul Lambert as manager in February and since then the Villans have undergone something of a transformation, pulling clear of the relegation zone and reaching their first FA Cup final in 15 years.
"We know we are the underdogs, we know that Arsenal have been there and done that," admitted Sherwood. "They are the holders of the trophy and it is going to be very difficult for us but we are not just there to make the numbers up, but to give them a good game."
Villa will have their most famous fan at Wembley to cheer them on, and Prince William has admitted to the BBC that he's "nervous" at the prospect of watching his team in action against Arsenal. Nonetheless His Royal Highness expressed confidence in Sherwood's managerial qualities.
"I think it's been an interesting season for Villa, the last two seasons have been quite hard work, being close to relegation," he told Gary Lineker. "The guys have battled through, they've done seriously well, and I'm really excited about Tim's leadership, he's doing a really great job with them."
