Theo Walcott has admitted that he is haunted by missing Arsenal's FA Cup triumph last season, but will use the disappointment as motivation to help the club retain the trophy.

The 25-year-old was absent for the Gunners' 3-2 win over Hull City in the final after a knee injury sustained in January ruled him out of action for 10 months.

Arsene Wenger's side travel to Brighton & Hove Albion this evening as they bid to reach the fifth round, and Walcott is determined to make up for what he missed out on last May.

"For me personally it would be fantastic [to do well in the cup] because of the disappointment of last year," he told the club's official website. "That is something I am desperate to achieve this year.

"It was hard to take definitely, missing [the final]. But it is one of those things that happen in football and things happen for a reason."

Arsenal's route to another final arguably became less treacherous after Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton all lost their fourth-round ties on Saturday.