Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told his devastated squad that they cannot allow Carling Cup final heartbreak to derail their season.
'Massive challenges' on the horizon for Frenchman's squad
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told his devastated squad that they cannot allow Carling Cup final heartbreak to derail their season.
The Londoners lost 2-1 to Birmingham in Sunday's showpiece as a calamitous late mix-up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny handed the silverware to Alex McLeish's team.
Arsenal had kicked off the match in a desperate frame of mind to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2005 and defeat at Wembley was therefore a massive setback.
But the Premier League title is still very much within reach, while Wednesday sees and an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Leyton Orient before next week's UEFA Champions League second leg against Barcelona in Spain.
And, with a Treble still a possibility, Wenger does not want his players to be critically crestfallen, as the Frenchman said: "It is a massive disappointment for the team, but we have massive challenges in front of us.
Character
"The Carling Cup is four or five games, but a championship season is 38. We will not throw 38 games away because of one game.
"I am confident we have the character and this is a good opportunity to show it.
"We have to be proud of our attitude, continue with our belief, pick ourselves up and face the other challenges we have.
"We will face a lot of questions after that mistake, but we have to be strong enough to stand up.
"It is a good opportunity to show that we have the mental strength to respond to the situation."
Destroyed
Wenger, who could be without Robin van Persie against Barcelona after the Dutchman sustained a knee injury at Wembley, admitted Koscielny and Szczesny would certainly need their spirits raised.
The Arsenal boss said: "Both of them are destroyed.
"We have to lift them up again and help them. That is what a team is about, that is part of the game."
On the costly blunder, Wenger said: "It was a lack of communication, determination a little bit as well.
"Like always, when the ball is in No Man's Land, someone has to take responsibility and go for it."
