With the F.A. Cup, one of only two potential trophies remaining for Arsenal to break their near eight-year drought, the fifth round tie against Championship side Blackburn will be taken very seriously by Arsene Wenger and co.
Arsenal have not had an easy time of it in the F.A. Cup, needing a replay to see off Swansea in the third round, despite dominating the Welsh side in the opening tie, and then edging Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 in the fourth round.
The last trophy that the Gunners won was the F.A. Cup in 2005, on penalties against Manchester United, and the North London club look primed for another run at the title, although Blackburn Rovers cannot be taken lightly.
Arsenal have looked a more potent force going forward in recent games, although they have been a little wasteful in front of goal. But the part of the season where they seemed to fail to create chances seem to be behind them, as the Arsenal forward line start to gel together.
Wenger will have to decide on what team to use, keeping in mind the mammoth Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Bayern Munich Tuesday, although the Frenchman is likely to rest Jack Wilshere, even if he is passed fit after receiving a kick on his thigh in the 1-0 win over Sunderland.
That win typified the new spirit at Arsenal, with the Gunners putting on a heroic defensive performance in the second half after going down to ten men following the dismissal of Carl Jenkinson.
Arsenal have often been criticized for crumbling when things go wrong, but against Sunderland, they definitely showed they are up for the fight, in a game where three points were a must to remain in contention for a Champions League berth.
Thomas Vermaelen has returned to full training and could start the game, while Laurent Koscielny faces a fitness test. Jenkinson serves a one-match suspension following his red card against Sunderland, while Kieran Gibbs remains ruled out through injury.
The rest of the Arsenal squad are fit and ready, and it is likely that Wenger will give a start to the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho, who recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Blackburn are not doing great in the Championship at the moment and lie six points off the playoff places, although they are on a three-match unbeaten run.
On paper, whatever team that Wenger puts out should be capable of turning over Rovers, and the Arsenal fans will be hoping for more of a serene passage into the next round rather than edge of the seat, nail-biting stuff - enjoyable as that maybe.
Expected lineups: Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal; Coquelin, Diaby; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Gervinho; Giroud.
Blackburn: Kean; Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson; Lowe, Murphy, Olsson, Campbell, Kazim-Richards, Rhodes.
Prediction: 3-0 to Arsenal
