Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Porstmouth: 5 things we learned – The future is bright

By Andrew Dowdeswell

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Eddie Nkethia of Arsenal is congratulated by team-mates after he scores a goal to make it 2-0 during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Eddie Nkethia of Arsenal is congratulated by team-mates after he scores a goal to make it 2-0 during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /
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PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Pablo Mari of Arsenal celebrates after his teammate Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their team’s first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Pablo Mari of Arsenal celebrates after his teammate Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their team’s first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

2. FA Cup there to be won

Prior to last week, Arsenal’s priorities were recovering their position in the Premier League and making a late run at a top-four finish and progressing through the rounds of the Europa League with a chance of both winning a European title and qualifying for the Champions League. After Thursday’s disaster, the latter of those aims is clearly not possible.

As such, the FA Cup now comes into view as a primary target for Mikel Arteta and his players. The Spaniard has spoken previously about the desire to instil a winning culture in the squad. To do that, you have to win trophies, and the FA Cup is now the only remaining competition that Arsenal can win this season.

There are still plenty of excellent remaining in the draw, including both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs, although Liverpool and Chelsea play each other in the fifth round. It will be no cakewalk to win the FA Cup. But Arsenal have a chance of ending this dastardly season with a trophy, and they should not take that lightly.