Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has described his side's fifth-round FA Cup tie with Sutton United on Monday night as "a very important game".
The FA Cup now represents the Gunners' best chance of silverware this season after their 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, and Wenger admits that his side must "bounce back" with a victory over the National League outfit.
"The FA Cup is one of our targets and it's the next game," he told reporters this morning. "For us to bounce back after the game we had, it becomes an important game but it always was in my head. I always said in my mind that it was a very important game, Sutton.
"In my head I have a team who will start and play there. The result we had at Bayern Munich will not influence my selection."
Asked if the game would be an opportunity for players such as Lucas Perez and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, he added: "Yes, but they have a chance just because I think they deserve to play and they have a good opportunity to show that they can come in for players who usually play. They have done well and another one or two might have an opportunity to say that he can play in every single game now."
After the game with Sutton, the Gunners are not due to be in competitive action again until a trip to Liverpool in the Premier League on March 4.
Neil Wilkes
