 Wenger was pleased with the resilience of his players at Upton Pa |
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his team are in a good position to push for silverware after coming from behind to defeat 2-1 West Ham in the FA Cup.
The Gunners meet Stoke in the fourth round of the FA Cup, have a Champions League tie against Porto in February and are third in the Premier League.
"Of course we want to win trophies," said Wenger, whose last silverware was the 2005 FA Cup.
"And on 3 January we are in a position where we can have hope."
Arsenal will move to within one point of the top of the Premier League if they win their game in hand against Bolton on Wednesday.
But Wenger's team had to survive an FA Cup scare at Premier League strugglers West Ham on Sunday.
The Hammers took a deserved lead in first-half stoppage time through Alessandro Diamanti and it was not until the introduction of Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri shortly after the hour mark that Arsenal looked like equalising.
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"We needed to be patient because West Ham were very committed," added Wenger, who saw his side seal victory through an Aaron Ramsey strike and an Eduardo header.
"When you have two players of the calibre we brought on it helps but the two boys before, Jack Wilshere and Fran Merida, did fight very hard when West Ham were at the top of their game.
"We didn't find our fluency but when we increased our tempo it was a matter of time.
"The worst would have been a 1-1 but the 2-1 is OK."
Wenger now loses Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue to the African Cup of Nations and has injury problems to the likes of Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas.
"We are still short in numbers - Arshavin was injured for the match against West Ham but it is good to see Eduardo coming back to his best," added the Gunners boss.
"It is never the easiest month [to buy players]. It is generally difficult to find the right people and in January even more so.
"I am not near [to signing] anybody."
| If we play like that with all the players back we will be alright West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola |
West Ham are currently 17th in the Premier League, level on points with Bolton and Hull, who occupy 18th and 19th respectively.
But boss Gianfranco Zola is confident that if his side can reproduce the Cup form they showed against Arsenal they will pull clear of the relegation battle.
"If we maintain the attitude and passion we showed, and with a few players back, we will produce results," said the Italian.
"It gives me a lot of confidence, the players have given everything and that is a good sign for a manager.
"If we play like that with all the players back we will be all right."
Zola was cautious when asked if he would sign any players in January and admitted he is more concerned at keeping his squad together.
"January is going to be quiet," he stated. "The big present for me would be if this team stays together and I get all the injured players back.
"Everybody knows the financial situation. I think we have stability and do not have big problems. I am not expecting to have anybody leaving."
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