Soccer:Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told his devastated squad that they cannot allow Carling Cup final heartbreak to derail their season.

The Londoners lost 2-1 to Birmingham in Sunday's showpiece as a calamitous late mix-up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny handed the silverware to Alex McLeish's team.

Arsenal had kicked off the match in a desperate frame of mind to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2005 and defeat at Wembley was therefore a massive setback.

But the Premier League title is still very much within reach, while Wednesday sees and an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Leyton Orient before next week's Uefa Champions League second leg against Barcelona in Spain.

And, with a Treble still a possibility, Wenger does not want his players to be critically crestfallen, as the Frenchman said: "It is a massive disappointment for the team, but we have massive challenges in front of us.

"The Carling Cup is four or five games, but a championship season is 38. We will not throw 38 games away because of one game. I am confident we have the character and this is a good opportunity to show it.

"We have to be proud of our attitude, continue with our belief, pick ourselves up and face the other challenges we have. We will face a lot of questions after that mistake, but we have to be strong enough to stand up.

"It is a good opportunity to show that we have the mental strength to respond to the situation."

Wenger, who could be without Robin van Persie against Barcelona after the Dutchman sustained a knee injury at Wembley, admitted Koscielny and Szczesny would certainly need their spirits raised.

The Arsenal boss said: "Both of them are destroyed.

"We have to lift them up again and help them. That is what a team is about, that is part of the game."

On the costly blunder, Wenger said: "It was a lack of communication, determination a little bit as well. Like always, when the ball is in no man's land, someone has to take responsibility and go for it."