Song calls for Gunners focus

Song: Has called for focus

Alex Song insists Arsenal must stay focused on upcoming challenges despite being held to a disappointing FA Cup draw at Leyton Orient.

"We are still in the FA Cup and I am 100% sure we will win the replay at the Emirates."
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After beating Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League at Emirates Stadium in midweek, the Gunners were brought down to earth at Orient on Sunday as a late strike from substitute Jonathan Tehoue cancelled out Tomas Rosicky's early opener to set up a fifth-round replay.

Arsenal are now set for a run of five games in 14 days, including the Carling Cup final, their replay against Orient on March 2nd and then the second leg of the Champions League tie against Barca, which they lead 2-1.

The Gunners host Stoke in a rearranged Premier League game on Wednesday night, when they will be looking to close the gap on leaders Manchester United, who they could face in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

And Song knows his side cannot fixate on the Orient result with such a hectic schedule in front of them.

Focus

"It is not very good to have another game because we are playing a lot, but we have drawn a game we wanted to win," said Song.

"Now we need to be focused because we have one game coming soon, which we need to win for the Premier League, and then we have the Carling Cup final next week."

He added: "It is always very difficult when you play one big game [Barcelona], and when you come back you play a team you are supposed to beat,

"But we are still in the FA Cup and I am 100 per cent sure we will win the replay at the Emirates."

Song, 23, is confident Arsenal can bring some overdue silverware to the Emirates this season, with the north Londoners still competing on four fronts.

"We have a very good team and always work very hard in training because this year is very important for us," he said.

Strong

"We want to do very well because everyone has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"We are in a strong position because we are in four competitions and that is very good for us.

"We need just to take game by game. The next step is Wednesday against Stoke which is very important.

"If we win that we are only two points behind Manchester United, which would be great news."