Ray Parlour: Pressure is on Arsenal to break trophy duck

Most people probably don't remember that I played for both Arsenal and Hull City, so I'm looking forward to the FA Cup final more than most!

Nine years is a long time for a club like Arsenal to go without a trophy.

All the pressure is on Arsenal – a bit like Manchester City last year. Arsenal are odds on to win it but what an opportunity for Hull to win a trophy.

Hull have already made history with their first FA Cup final, and those players must be very proud of what they’ve achieved.

Hull’s recent form has been pretty poor but I’m sure one eye was on the Cup, making sure they’re fit and ready for selection.

Steve Bruce will know his side, whereas Arsene Wenger will have to make a decision, particularly in midfield. Hull being without Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long is a blow, but they have got this far without them and it’s still a one-off game where anything can happen.

Arsenal will have to be on the ball, literally and metaphorically! They need to dictate the tempo and rhythm, and do it fast. They can’t allow themselves to get nervous by starting slowly; Hull are generally an attack-minded team but they will sit deep and look for errors.

You look at the battles round the pitch, both sides need to be defensively solid – while Arsenal will dominate possession, Hull are dangerous on the break.

Mesut Ozil finding form again is important for Arsenal, and Aaron Ramsey’s return from injury is also massive, not least because of his late and clever runs into the box. Hull will keep it tight but, in addition to his own goal threat, Ramsey’s runs are very distracting for defenders and create space for team-mates.

Arsenal have to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and get their rhythm early. But if a few of their players aren’t at the races Hull will give them a run for their money.

But, with respective form and quality of the squads, I’m going to go for an Arsenal win, and if I had to predict a score, I’d say 2-0.

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Of course I played for Arsenal for most of my career, and they remain ‘my’ club. But I had a great time in my 15 games at Hull, for completely different reasons.

I enjoyed every minute of those Hull matches – I’d never been in a relegation battle and I always wanted to experience it. I remember the Birmingham game and the lads were a little bit nervous but I wasn’t. We won 2-0 and I found it exciting, for the wrong reasons, but fighting for your lives – and getting away with it – was a great experience.

But, as I said, Arsenal are my team. I should be an entertaining final and a crucial one for them.

That group of Arsenal players have not won a trophy together, and if they can win that it will give them a lot of confidence in the future. Sometimes you just need to get that load off your back, break the duck if you like – once they have a piece of silverware, mentally they will be able to better cope with title challenges in the future.

I do think Arsene will be at the club next season – the players are on long-term contracts so he knows he won’t have the same problems that he had in the past, where the lads he’s developed let their deals wind down and become easy targets for the richer clubs.

Arsene does know that he must compete in the transfer market though, particularly up front as I don’t think Nicklas Bendtner is providing enough competition for Olivier Giroud, while Yaya Sanogo has a lot of potential but is not ready in my view.

Arsenal do need about three or four players, and I agree with Arsenal it should be about quality not quantity; they need stronger spine, with a defensive midfielder a second priority behind a striker.

They struggled against the bigger teams which leads me to think that, while the nucleus and system works, they need a bit more quality.

I said that Arsenal need to compete in the market, and that’s because everyone is going to be moving – Liverpool know they were a few players short of the title, and they have the Champions League now so will need a bigger squad; City and Chelsea will strengthen as that’s what they do, while Manchester United need an overhaul. I imagine Spurs and Everton will look to change a few things around too.

But, looking to the FA Cup final, it’s a shame I won’t be there. I didn’t anticipate Arsenal getting to the final and so will be in Singapore playing in a tournament – and, obviously, trying to find somewhere to watch it in the early hours of the morning!

Former Arsenal and Hull City midfielder Ray Parlour is a #bestjob ambassador for Titan Bet, which is offering one lucky fan the chance cover all the World Cup action in Brazil, at eight live games including the semi-finals and final, all expenses paid! Visit Titan Bet's website to apply now!