Arsenal’s implosion at AC Milan has left the FA Cup as the club’s only realistic route to a trophy after seven demoralising years without silverware.
And if the season is still to end in glory at Wembley, the Gunners don’t have much time to recover from their heaviest-ever European loss, a 4-0 rout at the San Siro in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Arsenal, clinging to fourth place in the Premier League, travel to Sunderland on Saturday in the fifth round of the FA Cup, which Arsene Wenger’s side won in 2005.
“The season is not finished,” Wenger said.
“We have a big game on Saturday and it is a good opportunity to show we have character and mental strength, that we can respond after such a shocking defeat.
“You could blame and blame, but we have to stick together and win the next game. A big disappointment like that has consequences on your belief.”
Arsenal sit 17 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League and only ahead of Chelsea for the last Champions League spot on goal difference.
The FA Cup has also taken on renewed importance for Chelsea and Liverpool, who are out of the Premier League title race. Both face League Championship sides this weekend.
Chelsea host Birmingham on Saturday with pressure mounting on manager Andre Villas-Boas after just one win in five matches.
“We all understand we need to do more, our run of results hasn’t been impressive but the responsibility is shared,” he said.
Unlike Arsenal, the Blues still have a realistic chance of advancing in the Champions League with the first leg of their last-16 match at Napoli not until Tuesday.
Liverpool host Brighton on Sunday after eliminating Manchester United in the fourth round.
Morale is low at Anfield after losing to United in the Premier League last Saturday in an ill-tempered match that left Kenny Dalglish’s side seventh.
They were also widely criticised for initially backing Luis Suarez over a race row, before a series of apologies.
With a League Cup final against Cardiff looming at the end of February, advancing to the FA Cup quarterfinals could provide the perfect fillip after the wave of negative publicity surrounding Liverpool.
“We are Liverpool Football Club and we have to show our crowd what we are made of and put on a good display for our fans,” defender Martin Kelly said.
With Manchester rivals City and United out of the FA Cup, the highest-place Premier League side remaining in the competition is third-placed Tottenham.
Having overcome Cheltenham and Watford, Harry Redknapp’s men have avoided topflight opponents again, with a trip north of London to third-tier side Stevenage on Sunday.
Also Sunday, Stoke host Crawley, while Saturday’s other fixtures are Everton taking on Blackpool, Bolton at Millwall and Norwich facing Leicester.
