Arsene Wenger insists winning the Carling Cup would be another progressive step forward for Arsenal but the Frenchman believes his side’s consistency in the Premier League is a more difficult feat.
Only Arsenal and Manchester United have finished in the top four each season for the past 12 years, although the overwhelming majority have pointed to Wenger’s side’s distinct lack of trophies – their last being an FA Cup win in 2005 – as a critical point.
But Wenger maintains a sustained place in the Premier League’s elite should be considered an achievement, regardless of the fact there may be no tangible rewards.
"Winning the Carling Cup will be like beating Chelsea, like beating Barcelona - another step forward," said Wenger.
"It is always very difficult to say whether it is harder to finish always in the top four, or to win the Carling Cup.
"The most difficult is consistency at the top, and the proof of that is that only two clubs have been able to finish in the top four for each of the last 12 years, us and Manchester United.
"It is true that winning the Carling Cup will mean we don't have to answer that question any more about whether we can win trophies.
Wenger, however, has pointed out the potential end of the club’s six-year-trophy drought will raise belief within the squad and has dismissed the status of the Carling Cup being an important factor.
"It will be important for the confidence of the team for the rest of the season."
"We have a young squad and this will do much for their confidence.
"Because people are so much after us about trophies, we want to win one, but mainly because to win it would give us a lift.
"There is a weight on the team - we have to deliver trophies because we have not won any.
"The players say: 'okay, we want to win a trophy to show you we can win one'."
"How big the trophy is everyone will rate differently. I am confident that we've been, up to now, the most consistent team because we're still in everything. So it will convince the team they can deliver more."
Arsenal will be without their captain Cesc Fabregas after the midfielder aggravated his hamstring in their 1-0 win over Stoke City and Wenger has reiterated the importance of the Spaniard in the club’s other competitions.
"Cesc is disappointed, but his disappointment is diminished by the fact that we have other main targets after this game, like the championship, the Champions League and the FA Cup," said Wenger.
"If he was playing, he could damage his participation in all the other targets after that.
"Of course, he accepts it with disappointment, but our job isn't just about good things. It's also about disappointments."
"Could Cesc play with the injury he has? Certainly not at 100 per cent - and he could make the damage much worse, then be out for three, four, five weeks maybe."
Wenger has also dismissed the idea of getting distracted over the amount of medals he has won during his time at Arsenal.
"I am a futurist, not nostalgic. I have given some [medals] away, some must be in a cupboard, somewhere. Frankly, I am not collecting at all,” he said.
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