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Played
December 3, 2011 3:00 PM GMT
The DW Stadium — Wigan
Referee:‬ M. Clattenburg‎
Attendance:‬ 19280‎
 
 
Mikel Arteta 28′
 
Thomas Vermaelen 29′
 
Gervinho 61′
 
Robin van Persie 78′

Wigan - Arsenal Preview: Arsene Wenger's in-form Gunners failed to win away to the Latics in last two seasons

After their victory at Sunderland, the hosts face a tough match against the Londoners, who will have Robin van Persie back to lead the line after he was rested in midweek

By Alex Fisher

More On :  Arsenal FC, Wigan Athletic, Wigan Athletic vs Arsenal FC

PROBABLE LINEUPS

WIGAN

Al Habsi
Boyce, Caldwell, Gohouri, Figueroa
McCarthy, Diame, Watson
Moses, Gomez
Rodallega
ARSENAL

Szczesny
Koscielny, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Santos
Ramsey, Song, Arteta
Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho
Wigan have no new injury worries for this game, only third choice goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is unavailable.

Arsenal have four players unavailable through injury: Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere are long-term absentees and Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs have both joined them on the sidelines recently.

Thomas Vermaelen, Gervinho and Robin van Persie were all rested for the midweek League Cup defeat to Manchester City and they should all return to the starting line-up for this match.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • The two sides have played each other 16 times in their history, but they had never met before Wigan’s promotion to the Premier League in 2005. In the past six years, the Gunners have dominated the encounters with 12 wins and just two for the Latics.
  • Arsenal have not won on their last two visits to Wigan. They were held to a 2-2 draw last December and were beaten 3-2 in April 2010 with the Latics scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes of the game top secure the three points.
  • Arsenal celebrated their 125th Anniversary, this week. The club was founded on December 1 1886 as Dial Square before becoming Woolwich Arsenal in 1891 and just Arsenal in 1913.
  • Arsenal have not won any of their three recent trips to the North West, with defeats to Blackburn and United this season and Bolton last season. You have to go back to a 3-1 victory over Blackpool in April for the last time they were triumphant in this part of the country.
  • Home is not necessarily where the heart is for Wigan as Roberto Martinez’s side have not won at the DW Stadium in four attempts. The Latics have also not kept a clean sheet in 10 games.
  • Despite victory over Sunderland, Wigan are still in the bottom three of the Premier League; however, if they were they to record consecutive victories for the first time in 13 attempts they would close the gap on the sides just outside of the relegation zone.
  • Wigan average just one goal per game at home this season and have the worst conversion rate in the top flight, scoring with just 9 per cent of their shots.
  • Arsenal have the second best attacking record away from home this season. They average just over two goals a game on their travel – only leaders Manchester City have a better record.
  • Late goals could be on the cards for this game seeing as there have been 13 goals scored in the 80th minute or later in the last 10 Premier League meetings between Wigan and Arsenal.
  • Arsenal have recouped the most points from losing positions in the Premier League this season (seven) and all of those have been won in their last four league games.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Wigan Athletic 0-3 Arsenal FC
    22.45 %
  • Wigan Athletic 0-2 Arsenal FC
    14.91 %
  • Wigan Athletic 0-4 Arsenal FC
    12.23 %
Head to Head
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 14 May 2013 Arsenal FC 4 - Wigan Athletic 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 22 Dec 2012 Wigan Athletic 0 - Arsenal FC 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 16 Apr 2012 Arsenal FC 1 - Wigan Athletic 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 3 Dec 2011 Wigan Athletic 0 - Arsenal FC 4
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 22 Jan 2011 Arsenal FC 3 - Wigan Athletic 0
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  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Wigan Athletic
19 May 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2EPL
14 May 2013Arsenal FC 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
11 May 2013Manchester City 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
7 May 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Swansea City 3EPL
4 May 2013West Bromwich Albion 2 - Wigan Athletic 3EPL
Arsenal FC
19 May 2013Newcastle United 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
14 May 2013Arsenal FC 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
4 May 2013QPR 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
28 Apr 2013Arsenal FC 1 - Manchester United 1EPL
20 Apr 2013Fulham 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
Odds
Returns: Wigan £560.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £210.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Arsenal £15.71 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Team News
Available Squads
26Ali Al HabsiGoalkeeper
2Steve GohouriDefender
5Gary CaldwellDefender
23Ronnie StamDefender
31Maynor FigueroaDefender
4James McCarthyMidfielder
13Victor MosesMidfielder
14Jordi GómezMidfielder
6David JonesMidfielder
21Mohamed DiameMidfielder
18Conor SammonStriker
12Mike PollittGoalkeeper
24Adrián LópezDefender
7Albert CrusatMidfielder
8Ben WatsonMidfielder
16James McArthurMidfielder
9Franco Di SantoStriker
20Hugo RodallegaStriker
13Wojciech SzczesnyGoalkeeper
4Per MertesackerDefender
5Thomas VermaelenDefender
6Laurent KoscielnyDefender
27Andre SantosDefender
8Mikel ArtetaMidfielder
16Aaron RamseyMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
20Robin van PersieStriker
14Theo WalcottStriker
27GervinhoStriker
21Lukasz FabianskiGoalkeeper
20Johan DjourouDefender
23Andrey ArshavinMidfielder
10Yossi BenayounMidfielder
35Francis CoquelinMidfielder
15Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainStriker
29Marouane ChamakhStriker
Players to Watch
James McCarthy
James McCarthy
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 4
Games Goals YC RC
38 3 7 0
The Irish midfielder has made nine appearances for Martinez’s side this term and he has begun to make more of an impact in the Wigan midfield of late. However, he has not made any assists and he is still looking for his first goal of the season, something he will be hoping to put right this weekend.
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 20
Games Goals YC RC
38 26 6 0
The striker is having a fantastic season so far having stayed free of injuries. He has scored 13 goals this term, which is one more than the whole of the Wigan squad.
Prediction
Wigan will be on a high after their last gasp victory over Sunderland last weekend, however, facing Arsenal is as tough a test as any, although the Latics will be hoping to extend their unbeaten home run against the Gunners to three games.

Arsenal are the in-form team in the Premier League at the moment and are unbeaten in six, and will be confident they can make it seven against second bottom Wigan.

With Van Persie in sparkling form the Gunners should have too much for the battling Wigan and will run out comfortable victors.
Editor's Prediction
Wigan 1
Arsenal 3
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

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