Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes he could have lost his job if he had not won FA Cup in 2014 

Arsene Wenger admits losing to Hull City in the FA Cup final in 2014 could have cost him his job.

Arsenal came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Wembley two years ago and face the Championship's top club in the fifth round at the Emirates on Saturday.

Wenger signed a three-year contract less than two weeks after winning the FA Cup but defeat by Hull would have seen him come close to leaving the club he joined in 1996.


Arsene Wenger lifts the FA Cup in 2014, but admits he did not know if he would keep his job before the game

Arsene Wenger lifts the FA Cup in 2014, but admits he did not know if he would keep his job before the game

Wenger, who has led the club for almost two decades, now leads his side into another crucial meeting with Hull

Wenger, who has led the club for almost two decades, now leads his side into another crucial meeting with Hull

Wenger talks to Mohamed Elneny, who is likely to start against Hull, during Friday's training session

Wenger talks to Mohamed Elneny, who is likely to start against Hull, during Friday's training session

Francis Coquelin and Mathieu Flamini battle for the ball in training, as Arsenal prepare for the fifth round clash

Francis Coquelin and Mathieu Flamini battle for the ball in training, as Arsenal prepare for the fifth round clash

Callum Chambers, who impressed when he came on against Leicester, trains alongside Mesut Ozil

Callum Chambers, who impressed when he came on against Leicester, trains alongside Mesut Ozil

Alexis Sanchez looks to play the ball past German centre back Per Mertesacker as his team-mates watch on

Alexis Sanchez looks to play the ball past German centre back Per Mertesacker as his team-mates watch on

'If we had lost it, I don't know,' Wenger said ahead of his 100th game in the competition. 'Usually I respect my contracts and I fight for everything.

'It would have been a problem had we not won because it would have been a massive disappointment for everybody.

'Nobody imagined that we would go into the FA Cup final against Hull and lose. No disrespect to Hull, but the size of our opponent would have made it worse. If you go to a final against Manchester United, people think you can win or lose.

'If you go to final a against Hull, everybody expects you absolutely to win and the disappointment would have been bigger.'

Wenger is currently in his 20th year at Arsenal and claims to have turned down offers from elsewhere to stay at the north London club.

Arsenal have consistently qualified for the Champions League under Wenger and are fighting for the Barclays Premier League title this season, but the 66-year-old feels his success is taken for granted.

Danny Welbeck is fit again for Arsenal, and Wenger revealed that he could start against Hull on Saturday

Danny Welbeck is fit again for Arsenal, and Wenger revealed that he could start against Hull on Saturday

Olivier Giroud, who has not scored in six games, will hope he can rediscover his best form in the FA Cup

Olivier Giroud, who has not scored in six games, will hope he can rediscover his best form in the FA Cup

Arsenal's second-choice keeper David Ospina will play, with Petr Cech given a rest in the FA Cup

Arsenal's second-choice keeper David Ospina will play, with Petr Cech given a rest in the FA Cup

Wenger is showered with champagne by striker Lukas Podolski after leading his side to victory in 2014

Wenger is showered with champagne by striker Lukas Podolski after leading his side to victory in 2014

Aaron Ramsey scored the extra-time winner as Arsenal came from two goals down to beat Hull in the final

Aaron Ramsey scored the extra-time winner as Arsenal came from two goals down to beat Hull in the final

'One day I will show you all the proposals that I denied to stay here,' Wenger added. 'I'm committed to this club and I think I've shown that.

'People are very demanding. When you look at our consistency, we are the only club who for such a long time has always been at the top.

'Maybe one day you will see that it is not as easy as it looks. It's very difficult.

'Consistency for me is the most difficult thing to achieve for a club. Once it is there everybody considers it normal.

'People forget that in 2006 we moved into a new stadium. We had half the resources of the other clubs. We had to sell our best players and we had to stay at the top as well.

'Everybody forgets. They'll just say: 'Why did you not win?'

The Arsenal players celebrate their winning goal, which Wenger knows could have earned him a new deal

The Arsenal players celebrate their winning goal, which Wenger knows could have earned him a new deal

The win earned Arsenal their first trophy for nine years, and they would retain the Cup the next year

The win earned Arsenal their first trophy for nine years, and they would retain the Cup the next year

'When I have the players and the team I can deliver. We are the only ones who won the Premier League without losing a game. Nobody has done it.

'We have been remarkably consistent and when we can deliver we deliver.'

Wenger also admitted he blocked Mathieu Debuchy's loan move to Manchester United on transfer deadline day, deciding instead to send him to Bordeaux.

Debuchy said this week he was 'annoyed' by the decision but Wenger said yesterday: 'If Manchester United wants to buy a player, fine, but you loan players out to clubs that don't have the resources. Not to direct opponents.

'There was nothing shocking in that. And it's true, I stand up for that.'

The first football match that Wenger ever watched on television was an FA Cup final – shown in black and white during his schooldays in France.

Ahead of his 100th game in the competition, Wenger added: 'At that time I could never imagine I would play 100 FA Cup games. It is a privilege, because 100 is quite a big number. I want to defend my record.'