Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey doesn’t believe their FA Cup semi-final against Reading will be as straightforward a match for them as anticipated.
The holders will take on Steve Clarke’s men in the first semi-final of the competition later today at Wembley.
Arsenal ended their nine-year trophy drought with their FA Cup triumph last season and Ramsey admits that winning the trophy lifted a huge burden off their shoulders.
“That sort of pressure has gone because we won something last season, so there is no more of this nine years [without a trophy talk]”, Ramsey told the club’s official website.
The Welshman admits that Arsenal are overwhelming favourites to win the trophy again this season and are expected to turn over Reading in the semi-final later today.
relatedNewsStory
However, he warned that it is not going to as easy as it is made out to be and stressed that they need to start well against a Reading side who will be motivated to cause a cup upset by beating the Premier League's in-form team.
“I suppose that’s sort of gone but we are big favourites and we have to go into the game switched on and ready for them, because anything can happen in these stages of the FA Cup.
“Their league form this season has been up and down, but anything can happen on the day. So we will have to start well, which we have been doing lately in games, and hopefully finish the job off.”
Arsenal won the FA Cup in back-to-back seasons once in their history, when they lifted the trophy in 2002 and 2003.
Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.
