Arsenal ended a fraught fortnight on the pitch with their EPL challenge firmly intact and firmly established as favourites to lift the Carling Cup, which would be their first trophy in six years.

The Gunners were in the depths of despair, by their standards, after throwing away a two-goal lead at home to, of all teams, North London rivals Tottenham, and falling to their second consecutive Champions League defeat, putting their qualification for the knockout stage at risk.

But after their impressive 4-2 win at Aston Villa in the EPL last Saturday lunchtime, manager Arsene Wenger’s men briefly led the EPL.

 

And victory over Wigan in the Carling Cup quarter-finals leaves them as raging hot favourites to lift the trophy next spring.

The Gunners supremo was quick to praise his side’s resolve against Aston Villa, where they briefly threatened to throw away another two-goal lead just seven days after their Tottenham aberration, before running out convincing winners.

He said: “Villa had a good comeback in the second half but we managed to find the response to come out on top. At 2-0 at half-time, you could feel what happened at Tottenham had an impact in their head.

“We could have crumbled or we could score again – and we did the latter. We got a good mental response.”

Arsenal have been drawn against Ipswich Town, the Football League’s sole representative, in the semi-finals. The first leg at Ipswich’s Portman Road will take place in the week commencing January 10^th, with the Emirates return two weeks later.

Arsenal injury concern Cesc Fabregas this week said he was prepared to “wait until I am completely ready” before returning to first-team action following the hamstring strain he suffered in Arsenal’s Champions League loss in Braga.

Writing in his captain’s notes in the Wigan match programme, Fabregas said: “I don’t want to put a date on my return, I will take my time. The team did really well without me at Aston Villa, so I will wait until the injury is completely ready.”

Emanuel Eboue, also injured in Braga, returned to the starting line-up against Wigan. And Dutch striker Robin Van Persie made his first start of the season against the Latics, with Wenger noting afterwards that “Robin showed his class tonight (but) he still needs games because he has been out a long time.”

Arsenal host London rivals Fulham in the EPL this Saturday.