Arsenal vs Watford: Troy Deeney dismisses Gunners links ahead of FA Cup clash

Watford forward Troy Deeney has dismissed his January links to Arsenal as pure speculation and is hoping to end the Gunners' FA Cup run and progress to the semi-finals, which will be played at Wembley. The Hornets face the north London club in the quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (13 March).

The English forward, who has been in fine form in recent months, was linked with a move to the Gunners during this year's January transfer window but revealed that such speculation comes around during every window. Apart from his rumoured move to Coventry City five years ago, he has dismissed all other links as pure speculation.

The Vicarage Road outfit have given a good account of themselves in their first season back in the Premier League and are currently 13th on the table and look likely to avoid the drop. After a good run at the end of 2015, they have struggled in 2016, having won just two of their last 10 league games since January.

The striker, however, is hoping they can upset the odds and make their way to Wembley to provide a big boost to the entire club along with the fans, who he believes are waiting for such an occasion. The last time the Hornets were in Wembley in the FA Cup was when they reached the finals during the 1983-84 season.

"I have spoken about it before, I think I have been linked in every transfer window for the past five, six. I don't even read that stuff anymore now. It's more like my mum or my nan, they get excited and drop me a little message to see if it's actually true," Deeney said, as quoted by the Telegraph.

"Swansea [rumours] normally come around quite often, Leicester. I was going to go to Coventry five years ago, that wasn't a link that was actually true. Let's just put it this way, if Lukas Jutkiewicz would have moved an hour earlier you wouldn't be speaking to me now.

"Obviously going to Wembley, it's not just for the players and coaching staff, it is a massive occasion for the town and fans. Obviously we've sold 8,000 already [for Arsenal] and they've only gone on sale on Wednesday. It shows how much everyone is looking forward to it and the hype surrounding. So I am pretty sure if we got to Wembley for the semi-finals we would sell out easily enough," the Watford striker explained.

Meanwhile, Deeney has joked that his son will not be given pocket money ahead of the game against Arsenal on Sunday, as his son is a Gunners supporter. He is also hoping that his son, who will be sitting in a private box on the away end, will not cheer if the 12-times FA Cup champions manage to score a goal.

"He is buzzing. He gets to go to Arsenal. It's the first time I've taken him to the Emirates so he will be happy. He is a six-year-old boy so it doesn't matter if it is daddy playing or not, he wants Arsenal to win because that's who he is on Fifa. It is one of those things, you have just got to learn to live with it. No pocket money this weekend I don't think!" he explained.

"They will be in a box and they get to watch the game, and I'll be making sure he doesn't cheer if Arsenal do manage to get a goal."