Arsene Wenger says The FA Cup is one of the main reasons he was first attracted to the English game.
The Frenchman, who has been in charge of Arsenal for over 17 years, still recalls watching Wembley Cup Finals during his days growing up as a football-obsessed youngster in Alsace.
And having gone on to lead the Gunners to four FA Cup titles over the years, it’s a competition which he still holds in high regard.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger watches his side's FA Cup victory over Spurs.
"My first memories in football come from English Cup Finals,” admitted Wenger, whose side will play Coventry City in this season’s Fourth Round later this month.
"There's a special atmosphere that you got even when it was on black and white television.
"That warm support that the teams had here in England and that commitment meant there was something special coming out of England when I was a kid.
"So maybe, I think that was printed in my head and I always wanted to come to England.
"It's special in England because it's part of your identity, the faithful attitude that people show to their club for the rest of their life is absolutely fantastic.”
That appreciation of the competition also means a greater sense of disappointment in defeat for Wenger though.
Highlights of Arsenal's 2-0 win over Spurs in The FA Cup Third Round.
Despite the victories of 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2005, Wenger admits that whenever he has tasted failure in The Cup, it’s hard to take.
Last season’s Fifth Round defeat against Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium was the first time Arsenal had lost against a lower league team since Wenger took over in 1996.
And that is a feeling of which he has no intention of having again.
He added: "The unexpected defeats are the ones that are most difficult to take.
"The guilt happens when you feel that your team has not performed at the level they should have performed.
"When you drive home after a game on a Saturday, you are conscious of what it means to people and how many people you have made unhappy on the day and that is difficult to take.”
Watch the full interview with Wenger and his thoughts on The FA Cup in the video player above.
