FA Cup: Arsene Wenger says Arsenal's season is not over

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Jack Wilshere

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says his team's season is not finished despite being

The Gunners have not won silverware since the 2005 FA Cup and only have the Champions League left this season as they face Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Wenger said: "It is very painful to lose a game like that. What is important is to focus on the next one.

"The season is not over. For you maybe, not for me."

Wenger, 63, added: "If we feel sorry for ourselves we would be completely wrong. We have a massive game on Tuesday night and we have to show that we have some response in the team."

Arsenal, who are fifth in the Premier League, dominated the game at the Emirates with Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla starting on the bench and introduced after 70 minutes.

But two minutes later Colin Kazim-Richards's goal secured a shock win as Arsenal lost their first FA Cup game to lower league opposition since 1996.

The Gunners lost to League Two Bradford in the Capital One Cup in December.

German side Bayern Munich are 18 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and are looking to take the next step towards a fifth European Cup triumph when they visit the Emirates next week for the first leg of their last 16 tie.

But Wenger said he was not worried by the eight-season trophy drought at the club.

"We have just lost a game today and we don't need to think too much about the eight seasons," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "The players who played today didn't play eight seasons ago and we must focus on the next game."

Reflecting on the defeat by Michael Appleton's Blackburn, the Frenchman said: "I couldn't see how we could lose the game because we had a lot of the ball and they had one shot on goal.

"But they defended well and it's the kind of game you can lose if you can mistake at the back like we did."

On booing at the end of the game, Wenger added: "What do you expect, people to applaud when you lose a game like that? It's absolutely normal."

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543 comments

  • Competitive in the Premier League.

    Champions League every year.

    Some fantastic players.

    Fantastic stadium.

    Before yesterday, had not lost an FA Cup game at home since 1997.

    Must be awful being an Arsenal fan.

  • I wish my team was 'only a top six club'.

  • The problem with Arsenal is not about the quality of players they have but the style of management. Wenger refuses to crack the whip when players under-perform.Wenger needs to throw his softly, softly approach to management out of the window and be ruthless with the players like Sir Alex.Because there are no consequences, they play with no passion and expect to win without putting in their shift.

  • The season hasn't been over since 2005 Wenger ?

  • I have supported Arsenal for over 40 years but now I am angry with whats going on we are a joke! it's not so much that we don't win trophies it's about the way the whole club is run, we should have started with are best team and then if things are going well sub off our top 3 players. we can't keep forgiving Wenger it's a shame but he is damaging Arsenal on and off the pitch.

  • For defiant read stubborn. He won't change his approach, even though it hasn't worked really for the last 5 seasons. Players like Cole and RVP have been proved 100% correct with their decisions to move.

  • @66 But the problem is Arsenal haven't won any of those trophies for EIGHT seasons! Meaning that in that time they've entered 32 competitions and failed to win ANY of them!! So I don't think Arsenal fans are losing perspective by saying that this isn't good enough. For a club of their stature it isn't good enough.

  • For a club the size of Arsenal so go so long without winning something clearly points to some serious mismanagement. Wenger signed Mertesacker when he could have had Samba at the time, a top class defender with Premier League experience. And now Newcastle are beating him to the best bargains from France. The big lad Sissoko and Cabaye would have been perfect for Arsenal.

  • Its an interesting point. I've been an Arsenal fan for 20+ yrs, and though the unbeatables were very very special and were great, that's not enough to be a great club.
    A great club completely dominates the league, consistently. Arsenal haven't, ManU have.

  • Arsenal's season is not over - wait until Tuesday!

  • No, it's not over. Tuesday night it's over.

  • Bayern is gonna maul us on Tuesday

  • Done One@ 98.

    The problem is that there are too many so-called fans that are just like you. 'Not going back until Aresenal win a trophy'. Look up the term 'supporter', you'll be surprised by what it means. Crikey, St James' Park would be empty if Newcastle fans were like you.

  • The only reason he bought in last years Jan transfer window was because of intense media/supporter criticism.N.U.F.C boughtSissoko, who was purchased for £1.5 million& probably on £40,000 per week.Arsenal would once have snapped up players like that & turned them into great players worth millions( double edged sword, I know !)Wenger looks remote & confused to me.

  • When you are still in the CL, your season is not over.....but in reality the performance of Arsenal football club is in a multi-year downtrend. That should be a worry to the fans and owners.

  • Wilshire, Corzola & Wallcott are all top players.
    Podolski & Vermaelon are good quality also.
    The rest are a bit average in my opinion.
    If Arsene is to leave, I hope he gets treated with the respect his service befits.
    Not many other managers out there who would do a better job with the same resources.
    I'm sure more key players would stay at the club if it was more committed to succeed.

  • Welcome to the "Arsenal out of all comps week"
    Out of league cup, which considering you could have easily won. With respect to the finalists.
    Out of FA and no doubt out of CL this week. But it's ok as avenger has earns over 50m thru the fans in salary without producing silverware. He is a magician. Lol at gooners. 8yrz.

  • @98.

    Your loyalty to your team is an inspiration!

  • Wenger is arrogant, always has been while at Arsenal. His rantings are desperate and if 4th place is enough to satisfy the board then god help the fans who are already paying inflated prices to watch the dross he serves up. arsenal will never win the CL while Wenger is there because he refuses to buy the players to do the job. Walcott must have no ambition or he's as daft as Wenger.

  • Arsene is right, the players yesterday weren't there 8 years ago.........and most of them wouldn't have got anywhere near the team 8 years ago. Who's fault is that?

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