Arsene Wenger has claimed he takes the FA Cup as "seriously" as ever and that he is determined to end Arsenal's eight-year trophy drought.
The team travel to Brighton on Saturday for their fourth-round clash and, despite the Emirates boss not always sending out his first-choice XI in such games, that seems unlikely to be the case in this tie.
Wenger, however, denied that the knock-out competition is the team's last chance of a trophy this season and re-asserted his confidence ahead of the Champions League tie with Bayern Munich.
"Of course we will give our best," Wenger said. "We will not neglect the game if that is what you want to know. We will be completely focused on winning that game but football is football. You have seen Bradford and Aston Villa. I know why you ask me [because of the eight-year drought], don't worry about that. We take that seriously. You know I won four times the FA Cup because I take the competition seriously."
Wenger, however, stated that the significance of this game goes beyond the FA Cup, due to Arsenal's recent inconsistency and own defeat to Bradford in the League Cup.
"It is important because people will look at us, how we respond to a challenge like the FA Cup," he added. "We wanted to do well in the Capital One Cup. After what happened, of course, it's important for us to show we are ready and motivated.
"It is important to go for every trophy we can. It is not only every trophy. We are in the Champions League. I know you have already kicked us out but we will surprise you! Not because we play against [Jupp] Heynckes and [Pep] Guardiola we are out!"
