'There's always magic in the FA Cup': Six years after Wigan heroics, James McArthur wants to make Wembley history again

McArthur and Crystal Palace face Watford in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend
McArthur and Crystal Palace face Watford in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend Credit: OFFSIDE

It is probably just as well, but for James McArthur it is not the medal the FA eventually replaced for him after the original was stolen. It is the memories of being a Cup winner, the things that cannot be taken, the magic.

McArthur had his medal stolen roughly a year after the Wigan Athletic team he was part of produced the biggest FA Cup final upset since Wimbledon’s victory over Liverpool by beating Manchester City in 2013.

Wigan remain the last team outside the traditional big six to win the Cup since Portsmouth in 2008, although McArthur almost repeated the trick with his current club Crystal Palace three years ago.

Palace took a late lead, but eventually lost to Manchester United after extra-time and the Eagles have the chance to reach another semi-final when they take on Watford, who they beat in the last four in 2016, in Saturday’s quarter-final.

It took two years for the FA to replace his winners’ medal, but McArthur said: “Having the medal is nice, but it sits in a somewhere in a safe place. The medal is obviously special, but knowing that we were there, it is more the memories and the day we created for so many that was special.”

Wigan were relegated from the Premier League just three days after winning the final and McArthur added: “When we were all sitting in the changing room, at that time we would have sacrificed getting to the final to stay in the League.

McArthur was part of the Wigan team who stunned Manchester City in the 2013 final
McArthur was part of the Wigan team who stunned Manchester City in the 2013 final Credit: REUTERS

“But now I don't think anyone would. When you get that silverware and those memories, something nobody can take away from you at the end of your career, then it's definitely the highlight.

“The final was amazing. We actually played City away two weeks before and we put in one of the best performances of the season. Before the final, the manager asked us ‘Have we got enough to go and win?' I think that was a masterstroke because I think he knew we were going to play well.

“It was such a special day. I think it was [Pablo] Zabaleta that got sent off and then we thought to ourselves: ‘Wow, we have got an amazing chance here.’ And when Shaun Maloney puts the ball in, Ben Watson connects with a header that is one of the best headers I have seen. And he wasn’t even meant to be in the box. An amazing day and something you can never take away from the guys that were there.”

It may well have been easier for McArthur to shake off because of his Wigan experience, but the midfielder claims that losing a final, as he did with Palace three years ago, does not live with him in the same way winning one has.

“It is obviously a low moment in your career, but I don’t think it affects any other game that you play in,” said McArthur. “I don’t think now ‘I need to do this, or we need to do that’. We will have a game plan against Watford that the manager will put out that we need to stick to get through.”

Of the top six, only City and Manchester United remain in this year’s competition but McArthur insists the FA Cup will retain its magic whichever club wins it.

“I think there's always been magic in the Cup,” he said. “Look at some of the results this year as well, lower league teams beating Premier League sides. There's always magic in the Cup.

“It's hard because, when the big teams play their full-strength side which is happening more and more, it's obviously tough to beat them. But, as a team outside the top six, you obviously want to create history and win. But so will the top teams. They'll want to get some silverware as well.”

Wilfried Zaha is the man Palace fans will look towards for their Cup magic on Saturday and McArthur has backed the forward to respond in the right way if he is once again targeted.

Etienne Capoue earned an early booking in the Premier League match between the sides at Vicarage Road for raking his studs down the back of Zaha’s Achilles and Troy Deeney admitted afterwards that the Watford players attempted to foul him on rotation.

But McArthur said: “You obviously speak to the referee and try and make sure he's being protected but, with Wilf, he just needs to keep being him. He's an amazing player.

“They obviously see him as the danger man. We can speak to the ref, but Wilf will do what he does and he can keep them quiet by keep scoring against them.”

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