He said: "We're not bad. Our performances have been not bad and we don't get beaten very often.

"We've only lost 10 games all season which is by far and away less than anybody in the bottom half of the table. What's been our problem this year is that we've drawn too many.

"That might be because we're not good enough to win them but at the same time we hang on in there and we're well-organised."

Francis is confident that Gavin Peacock (hamstring) and former Gunner Matthew Rose (knee) will be fit for the fourth round tie but Karl Connolly remains very doubtful with a groin injury he sustained in the third round replay win against Luton last week.

QPR chief scout Steve Burtenshaw suffered a stroke on Tuesday and is currently recovering in hospital and Francis hoped that will give his players something extra to play for.

He added: "We'll see what we can do in terms of getting a result on Saturday - the boys are thinking of him.

"Sometimes things like that put the game in perspective. I don't know if he will be able to come to the game - maybe he will."

Arsenal are without injured Martin Keown, Fredrik Ljungberg and their two Brazilians Silvinho and Edu, while Kanu is on World Cup duty for Nigeria.

Left back Silvinho has suffered a recurrence of a calf injury and Londoner Ashley Cole, 20, will deputise.

Edu is out for three weeks with the hamstring pull sustained after just 15 minutes of his debut last week along with Ljungberg, who damaged a foot in the goalless draw at Leicester.

Manager Arsene Wenger will choose between Latvian Igors Stepanovs and fit-again Gilles Grimandi to replace centre back Keown who has a knee injury.

Cameroon midfielder Lauren is also back in contention after an ankle problem.

Arsenal team (from): Seaman; Dixon, Grimandi, Adams, Cole, Lauren, Parlour, Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry, Wiltord, Stepanovs, Luzhny, Vivas, Pennant, Malz, Manninger (gk).