Arsense Wenger plays it cool as cup opens up for Arsenal

Brighton 2 Arsenal 3: FA Cup Fourth Round: Arsene Wenger is reluctant to admit it but having survived the FA Cup fourth round curse that struck many of his club’s traditional rivals, the holders go into this evening’s last-16 draw in the unfamiliar position of being favourites to win a trophy.

Arsenal’s 3-2 victory at Championship side Brighton, despite featuring an unnecessarily nervy finale, means they are the only team in the top six in the Premier League definitely through to the fifth round, and enjoying a momentum not experienced for quite some time in north London.

Coming on the back of a memorable, breakthrough victory at Manchester City, it is a significant moment in Arsenal’s season, not least because both Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil — both of whom are on the way back from long-term injury — were on the scoresheet and contributed greatly to another pulsating cup tie.