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Arsenal Will Respect Wigan

Arsenal are just two victories away from ending their nine-year wait for a trophy after reaching the FA Cup last four and manager Arsene Wenger insists he is still a winner.

The Gunners are favourites to reach the final against Championship promotion hopefuls and holders Wigan on Saturday.

Even then the season could end on a sour note if they finish outside the top four in the Premier League and miss out on the Champions League for the first time since 1998.

The Frenchman was recently branded a ‘specialist in failure’ by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

But on Thursday he said: “Don’t imagine I sacrifice every day of my life not to win a trophy. Everybody fights for that.

“We all play to win something. If you are in the FA Cup everyone can dream of winning it at the start of the season.

“The Championship – only seven clubs can dream of winning it at the start of the season.

“It is a dream open to everybody and that is the beauty of the FA Cup.”

Aresenal’s last trophy was the 2005 FA Cup.

But amazingly, Wenger admits his men didn’t deserve to win it, via a penalty shoot-out against Manchester United.

Wenger said: “In fact in 2005 we did not deserve to win the final.

“Being defensive was the only way we could win it.

The Arsenal boss will not take any chances against FA Cup holders Wigan this Saturday and insists his team will respect the Championship side.

“At the start I didn’t set up like that and suddenly they were all over us and I realised that physically we were not able to compete, so I said ‘ok let’s defend as long as we can’.”

The pressure to win a trophy cranked up on Wenger after Arsenal’s path to FA Cup glory opened up.

Wigan stunned big boys Manchester City to set up the semi with favourites Arsenal.

Hull and League One Sheffield United will meet in the other Wembley semi on Sunday.

Wenger said: “The draw was Manchester City or Wigan so we have not been favoured by the draw.

“Before that we played Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham.

“We want to respect Wigan because they have shown against Manchester City they can be a dangerous team.”