Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident his side will still reach the English League Cup final despite losing the first leg of the semifinal 1-0 at Championship club Ipswich Town.

But the Frenchman conceded the Gunners will have to play much better in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Jan 25 if they are to meet either West Ham or Birmingham at Wembley.

A goal from Tamas Priskin, the Hungarian forward, in the 78th minute sealed victory for an Ipswich side that had sacked manager Roy Keane the previous week, following a so far struggling season in English soccer's second tier.

On Saturday it suffered a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea in the FA Cup.

"I believe we'll turn it round, but we got a good warning tonight (Wednesday)," Wenger said after the upset result at Portman Road.

"We'll have to put in a better performance. With playing so many games you could see tonight that we had no spark," the Frenchman added.

"Ipswich was sharper and we made a mistake which it took advantage of. The good thing is that we play at home in the second leg and that can make a difference. We will not always be as lacking in creativity as we were tonight."

Priskin had previously seen an effort in the first half - an acrobatic overhead kick - ruled out for offside but marked his first start since December with a cool finish from Colin Healy's through-ball after outpacing Switzerland defender Johan Djourou.

Wenger - desperate to end Arsenal's six-year wait for a trophy - is trying to recruit an experienced defender before the transfer window shuts.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 01/14/2011 page22)