Hero Rebrov is so happy for the fans; FOOTBALL: West Ham Utd 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3.

Byline: MARK BRADLEY 

SERGEI REBROV thanked the Tottenham fans for their patience amid a difficult first season as he set his sights on repaying them by securing victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final.

Rebrov has come in for much all-round criticism following his pounds 11million signing last summer as he has struggled to adapt to the physical nature of English football.

But George Graham's record capture repaid his manager's continued faith by scoring twice at West Ham as well as delivering the corner from which Gary Doherty put the team 3-1 ahead.

With the Hammers' late onslaught failing to clinch an equaliser after Svetoslav Todorov had pulled a goal back, Graham was left to prepare for a mouth-watering semi-final clash against his former club Arsenal.

"I'm very happy with each goal that I score," said Rebrov, "but these two were very important for us and the fans.

"I just want to say thanks a lot to the fans. They have given me a lot of support. It's my first season and it's been very difficult for me.

"I am feeling more confident after each game now. It's difficult to go from the Ukrainian championship to the English Premier League.

"The first season for every player is very difficult. Every player is criticised at some time but you must just work very hard.

"I don't think I am showing my true form yet though. This is one more step to the FA Cup final and I think we can do it. We are certainly confident but it will be a big game."

Graham believes there is still far more to come from Rebrov, even if the striker has now taken his tally to the season to 11 with four goals in his past five games.

"He has found it difficult adjusting to the English game but he's a quality player," insisted the Tottenham boss.

"I've seen him play even better than that but he's still learning about English football."

FREDRIK LJUNGBERG insists Arsenal will not allow a sharp focus on their European ambitions to blind them to the opportunity of triumph in the FA Cup.

Manager Arsene Wenger and his players were not exactly doing cartwheels after easily sweeping Rovers aside and cruising into their third semi- final in four years.The feeling was more one of relief that no damage, either physically or in terms of morale, had been done ahead of Wednesday's critical Champions League visit to Bayern Munich.

"It is a massive game in Munich for us. We might have to win it to get into the Champions League quarter-finals. If we can do that it is a great thing for the players and the club.

"But we know we would regret it if we didn't take the chance to win a trophy - especially one like the FA Cup.

"I wasn't here when we won it in 1998 and it was only when I played in the semi-finals against Manchester United the next year that I fully appreciated the special atmosphere of the FA Cup. We are in another semi-final again now and we'll concentrate on this competition as much as any game.

"I played in the Swedish Cup final a few years ago but it is nothing like the English one. I remember we won it and that about 15,000 people watched the game, but that competition is nothing like the competition here.

"It is still a big trophy and all the players want to win it or at least get to the final. We know it means a lot to the supporters as well and hopefully we can do it."

Wenger confirmed: "The FA Cup is still a great competition and we'll try all we can to win it."

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