Wenger's side were hammered in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie away to Serie A champions Milan on Wednesday.

The French manager was furious with his team's performance, reportedly issuing a harsh condemnation of his players at a subsequent training session this week.

While Arsenal now appear set to exit Europe's premier club competition, Wenger chose to focus on the positives ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round match at the Stadium of Light.

"We are back in fourth (in the English Premier League), we have an opportunity to qualify for the quarter-final of the FA Cup," he said.

"It's important that we're up for that and we don't feel sorry for ourselves because of that performance."

Wenger has not always fielded his strongest line-up in the FA Cup, preferring to concentrate of league and European competition.

But the 62-year-old confirmed he would be taking the world's oldest domestic cup very seriously this season.

"The FA Cup has always been important," he said.

"Because we had a big disappointment in the last match it is more important. But the FA Cup was always important anyway. It is one of my priorities."

"The FA Cup and Champions League collide a bit, and you see that again this year. We go to Milan, we go to Sunderland. But after Wednesday night it's important we have a good performance."

"We'll be playing a full strength side. I will re-fresh the team a bit because some players have played in many games recently. But we'll do the maximum to win this game"

Arsenal will be without the services of Thierry Henry after the conclusion of the veteran's loan move from New York Red Bulls.

Wenger paid tribute to the striker's positive influence on and off the pitch during his brief return to the club.

"Thierry was great on and off the pitch, we have lost somebody, but he always maintained hope and positive morale in the dressing room," he said.

"I would like to thank him for that and I wish him well for the season. I'm sure he'll have a great season with his club because he is sharp. I'm confident in the USA his team will do well."