Seb Larsson insists he can see Sunderland becoming only the third team to win the FA Cup from outside of the 'big five' in 17 years.
Swede wants 2012 to be a year to remember
Seb Larsson insists he can see Sunderland becoming only the third team to win the FA Cup outside of the 'big five' in 17 years.
The Swede, who signed for the Black Cats during the summer, has been given a new lease of life since the arrival of Martin O'Neill at the Stadium of Light.
And Larsson believes the North East club can follow in the footsteps of Everton (1995) and Portsmouth (2008), by winning the showpiece event at Wembley in May instead of the usual clubs - both Manchester giants, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
The 26-year-old told
The Daily Mirror: "It is rare that anyone outside the top four wins it. But why not this year?
"For a club that has not got something like the Man City owners backing them, it is going to be hard to win the league. So this is the biggest trophy we have a realistic chance in.
"When you are this close to the later stages, you are desperate to go through.
"I have not spoken to team-mates about (playing for Birmingham at) Wembley last season. We will wait until we have booked our place there.
"It is just a great feeling. Definitely one you want to re-live if you can. Not many players get to experience it.
"I will always remember it and it was a special day. I want to relive it."
And if Sunderland were to go on and win the FA Cup this season, the winger hopes the fans can start to forget about their last trophy success.
"1973. We hear a lot of talk about the last time the club won the cup," said Larsson. "Yeah, 1973, a long time ago.
"It is about time we gave them something new to shout about, isn't it?
"We really want to go through (against Arsenal) and do well in the cup.
"Then Sunderland fans may be asking in 30 years' time, 'Remember 2012?'"
