Man U back on track after beating the Gunners in the FA Cup quarterfinals

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom - Arsene Wenger insists his Arsenal side has the character to bounce back after being knocked out of three competitions in two weeks.

Its latest setback came with a 2-0 FA Cup quarterfinal defeat at Manchester United on Saturday, which saw Johan Djourou ruled out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder.

It follows on from the disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions League round of 16 at Barcelona in midweek, after losing the League Cup final to Birmingham.

Now, with no trophies since it won the FA Cup in 2005, its only remaining chance of silverware is in the Premier League.

It currently trails Manchester United, who still has to travel to the Emirates, by three points but has a game in hand.

Wenger maintains that his players have the mentality to cope with the frustration and push United all the way in the race for the title.

He said: "I believe that we can do it but it's a good test for us now to show that we can regroup and show the mental strength and togetherness and respond quickly.

"We have a week without a midweek game for the first time in a long time. But we have a good opportunity to show that we are solid.

"I'm very disappointed that we lost three big challenges in a very strange way.

"One was in the last minute to a goal that came from nowhere, one was under strange circumstances in Barcelona and now this.

"We weren't outplayed but we were punished by a team that was more clinical than us."

Wenger was critical of the tackling of United's veteran midfielder Paul Scholes and admitted that his players had carried the disappointment of Barcelona into its trip to Old Trafford.

The Frenchman believes that still being in contention when United travels to Arsenal in May will be key to winning the title.

He added: "Things aren't going our way at the moment. We have to keep going and the players support each other and come back strong.

"It was a strange game. We put a lot in and at the moment the goalkeeper is always man of the match against us week in week out and we have to get over this period.

"Subconsciously the disappointment of Tuesday night has played a part in the game. You could see something has gone, not in our effort, not in our attitude but confidence-wise.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 03/14/2011 page24)