GOALKEEPERS are known for having safe hands, but one former Arsenal stopper has lost his FA Cup winners’ medal.
The Gunners won the famous trophy back in 2020 when they came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the end of Mikel Arteta‘s first season in charge.
Chelsea took an early lead through Christian Pulisic, but a brace from captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed a stunning comeback.
Matt Macey, who currently plays for League Two side Colchester, was on the bench as Emi Martinez’s deputy the day Arsenal triumphed.
In an interview with BBC Radio Essex, he revealed that he didn’t know where his winners’ medal was.
Macey, 31, said: “My medal is somewhere but I don’t actually know where it is. It’s nice to have but I don’t shout from the rooftops.
“I haven’t mentioned it, to be honest. It’s a really nice thing to have but in terms of my career it is not top of my achievements.
“It was an amazing moment and it’s nice to be on my CV but I didn’t play any minutes in the competition, it was Covid, there was nobody there.”
Macey profited after Bernd Leno’s ligament injury that he sustained against Brighton in June 2020 ruled him out for the rest of a 2019/20 campaign interrupted by the Covid pandemic.
Argentina’s World Cup winning keeper Martinez was excellent in his absence, and Macey was ready if called upon.
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However, the bench was as good as it got as he didn’t make an appearance during that period.
Macey added: “My memories of that period are feeling lucky that we were able to train and play and give people some happiness in a tough year. We didn’t get to celebrate with the fans, which would have been incredible.
The Colchester stopper spent seven years at Arsenal, but only played twice in the 2017/18 season.
One of those was a 2-1 win over Norwich in the EFL Cup, and he kept a clean sheet in Arsenal’s goalless draw against Red Star in the Europa League.
Somewhat of an EFL journeyman, Macey spent time out on loan at Accrington, Luton and Plymouth while he was at Arsenal before signing for Hibs in January 2021.
A return to Luton and a short stint at Portsmouth were his next stops, but he’s been at Colchester since last May.
Macey played over the weekend for the U’s, who lost 3-2 at home against MK Dons in the FA Cup first round.
Colchester next play on Saturday at home to Bromley in a 12:30pm kick-off.
