Wenger has 'massive targets'

Wenger has 'massive targets'

Published Mar. 2, 2011 7:15 a.m. ET

The Gunners host Leyton Orient in Wednesday night's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Emirates Stadium with a reminder from Wenger that greater prizes remain available. The FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League comprise a push for silverware on three fronts as Arsenal attempt to end their six-year trophy drought. "We have to live with the conclusions of people and keep our targets and goals," said Wenger. "We are in a massive race in the championship, we have an opportunity to qualify in the FA Cup and we have won the first leg in the Champions League. "We have much higher targets than the Carling Cup, even though we would have loved to have won it. We all agree about that. "We cannot let our motivation level or our confidence level drop because of that because of the massive targets we have in front of us." Wenger refuses to allow the manner of Sunday's 2-1 defeat by at Wembley, where an awful late blunder between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny gifted Birmingham the winner, to damage morale. "We were all unhappy but we could feel again today determined because we feel we lost in a really disbelieving way," he said. "At that moment we were on top, the result does not reflect the consistent performances recently and the quality of our performances recently. "Of course there was disappointment in the dressing room, but the players are untied, have a strong bond and are determined to go for the massive challenges we have in front of us." Neither Koscielny nor Szczesny will face Orient, the defender missing out because of a minor hamstring injury and the keeper being rested. Robin Van Persie has been ruled out for at least three weeks, preventing him from playing in next Tuesday's Champions League round of 16, second-leg showdown with Barcelona. However, his loss has been slightly tempered by a positive update on captain Cesc Fabregas, who could be fit to face the Spanish champions. Alex Song incurred a knee problem against Birmingham and will sit out the Orient game, but should return for Barcelona. Manuel Almunia will start in goal with Szczesny featuring on the bench, while midfielder Abou Diaby is also expected to feature.

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