The last time Arsenal won a trophy Steve Brookstein was X Factor champion... so why waste the opportunity to end the nine-year drought by resting your stars, Arsene?

3,191 days and counting. It's not what you'd describe as an insignificant amount of time.

Back in May 2005, Michael Howard was still leader of the Conservatives, the Arctic Monkeys hadn't even released an album and Steve Brookstein was the reigning X Factor champion.

The Premier League was a different place too - Bolton finished sixth, Middlesbrough were seventh, Charlton and Birmingham were 11th and 12th respectively.

Step it up: Arsene Wenger should be fielding as strong a team as possible

Remember? Michael Howard was in charge of the Conservatives (left) and Steve Brookstein won the X Factor

 

Oh, and Arsenal won a trophy. 

Little did we know then that it would be their only piece of silverware for eight years, eight months, 24 days and counting. It's such a remarkable length of time that there is a website dedicated to their drought. 

Which brings us to Sunday's big match at the Emirates - Arsenal v Liverpool.

Undoubtedly, it's a tough draw but it is also very much winnable. Arsenal have home advantage and they are three points better than Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League this season.

If Arsenal win the match, they will find themselves in a quarter-final draw lacking big names such as Manchester United, Tottenham and either Chelsea or Manchester City.

Dodge City or Chelsea in the draw and they'd fancy their chances against anyone. Even playing a weakened City or Chelsea team wouldn't be a nightmare.

So, why is Arsene Wenger seriously considering resting his key players on Sunday?

Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey are already sidelined, but Wenger is also willing to bench the likes Wojciech Szczesny, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Artetaand top scorer Olivier Giroud.

Arsenal fans crave a trophy. The Premier League and Champions League are obviously bigger targets, but the FA Cup is the most realistic of allthree competitions.

Those fans in red shirts are fed up of the taunts about their dusty trophy cabinet. They want something new and shiny in there.

So, just why would Wenger rest his players for this match? 

Cleaning up: Clint Eastwood's (left) Million Dollar Baby scooped four Academy Awards in 2005

Dated: Vince Vaughn (right) and Owen Wilson (left) starred in Wedding Crashers in the summer of 2005

Sworn in: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) takes over at the Vatican after the death of John Paul II

Well, we all know why - they are playing against the mighty Bayern Munich in the Champions League three days later.

But he is taking yet another gamble as he attempts to keep the fans on side. A trophy - just one trophy - would end the ridicule aimed at him, the players, the fans and the club in one swoop.

Yes, they still wouldn't have won the title for almost a decade, but Liverpool blow them out of the water on that count - the Anfield club haven't finished top of the pile since 1990.

Job done: Arsenal beat Manchester United 5-4 on penalties to clinch the FA Cup

Champagne moment: A fresh-faced Robin van Persie (right) and Dennis Bergkamp (left) celebrate

Here's a question - in this moment right now, would Arsenal fans accept failure to win both the Premier League and Champions League if they knew they would lift the FA Cup at Wembley?

It's not an easy one, but hindsight is handy. In a month, there's every chance Arsenal could be out of the race for all three.

Sure you want to rest those stars, Arsene?

All-star line-up? Wenger admitted he may rest key members of his squad against Liverpool

German connection: But will Per Mertesacker (right) and Lukas Podolski (left) play a part?