Juan Mata says Man United-Arsenal is 'pure English football'

Midfielder Juan Mata has described the match-up between Manchester United and Arsenal as ‘pure English football,’ speaking ahead of today’s FA Cup quarter-final.

United and Arsenal are currently joint record holders of the cup with 11 wins apiece.

The Spanish playmaker went on to say he is excited about his third FA Cup quarter-final in four seasons, and is relishing the chance to return to Wembley – Mata took home the trophy as a member of Chelsea in 2012.

“Today I’m writing from the pre-match hotel,” Mata said via his blog.

“As you know, we are playing Arsenal this Monday night, a game we are very looking forward to. We hope to do well and get the ticket to Wembley.

“To tell the truth, the team is really excited about the FA Cup, and facing an opponent like Arsenal in the last eight is a great opportunity to enjoy pure English football.

“And the fact that we play in Old Trafford gives us extra motivation and optimism. We will try to play our best football in front of our fans.

“This competition brings back some good memories: I was lucky enough to win it in my first year in England. I remember that game in Wembley very well, although I know there’s still plenty of work to do for us before dreaming of a final.

“Arsenal are very good technically, and many of their attacking players are very fast. They use to play with an attractive and offensive style. I’m sure this is going to be a nice game to watch for those who love football.”

Programming note: The FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester United and Arsenal will be shown LIVE today starting at 3:45pm EST on FOX Sports 1. Be sure to bookmark our TV listings for matches involving Premier League teams.