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Cape Town - Theo Walcott cannot wait to face Brighton because he wants to make up for the disappointment of missing much of Arsenal’s FA Cup-winning campaign last season.
The forward was ruled out for 10 months after sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in last year’s third-round win over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium.
Walcott scored the winner when the Gunners last played Brighton in the competition and is expecting a tough test on Sunday afternoon.
“I remember a few years ago we won 3-2 there,” he told Arsenal Player.
“Me and Jack came off the bench and we managed to win it in the end, but it was a tough game.
“It’s a lovely stadium, the changing rooms are fantastic and the fans were absolutely brilliant and the pitch is great as well. It is going to be a great test and Chris Hughton is manager now - and he is a very good manager.
“A lot of people say some players have lost some love for [the competition] but not for me at all. I am sure our players, having won it last year, will want to hold on to the trophy so it is important to start well.
“For me personally it would be fantastic [to do well in the cup] because of the disappointment of last year. That is something I am desperate to achieve this year.
“It was hard to take definitely, missing [the final]. But it is one of those things that happen in football and things happen for a reason.”
