Premier League Preview: Arsenal - Wigan Athletic

Wenger needs more zeroes against his team

Arsenal go into their game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday seeking firstly three points - to re-establish their title challenge after two consecutive Premier League defeats in Manchester; secondly a clean-sheet - having shipped eight goals in their last three games thanks to some error-strewn defending; and thirdly a game free of controversy.

Dubious decisions for and against the Gunners; alleged dives; ill-advised goal celebrations and the adrenaline-fueled excesses of former players have punctuated their last four matches with contentious moments, and a return to the relative calm in which headlines are made purely by the quality of football on show would surely be welcomed by Arsene Wenger and his players.

The fall-out from the Emmanuel Adebayor show at Eastlands last Saturday has rumbled on, with the Togolese striker, disingenuously claiming innocence, being handed a ban for kicking Robin van Persie's cheek and facing possible further sanctions for the provocative manner in which he reacted to scoring City's third goal in a thrilling 4-2 win. Van Persie, Wenger, Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue have all spoken out against their former colleague in the days since, and given that Arsenal appeared to be suffering a collective hangover from that blighted Eastlands defeat when they took on Standard Liege on Wednesday in the Champions League, they need to draw a line under the whole affair and ensure they are fully focused for the visit of Wigan.

Their performance in Belgium was disjointed, sloppy and in many respects wholly untypical of the team: it is a long time since Arsenal misplaced so many passes in a match. Their lack of concentration in the opening five minutes nearly cost them the game, as a foolhardy Eduardo flick on the edge of his own penalty area, and a rash challenge by William Gallas just inside the box, led to Standard storming into an early two-goal lead. A crucial reply by Nicklas Bendtner immediately before the break was their lifeline back into the contest, and they finished up deserved winners, although their two second-half goals (from the impressive Thomas Vermaelen and, inevitably, Eduardo) were uncharacteristically scruffy, the equalizer enjoying more than a dash of good fortune.

But a win is a win, and the squad will be enormously boosted by the fact that they battled back from a losing position to secure victory - without nine key players who had all been ruled out by injury. Nevertheless, they are still in danger of suffering a third successive Premier League defeat, unless they can put Wigan to the sword. Their resources will remain depleted by a crowded treatment room, but they cannot rely on excuses if they are serious about challenging for the title. Leaders Chelsea, who have played a game more than Arsenal, are effectively six points clear of them already, so they can ill-afford any more slip-ups.

At least they are at home after three  games on the road, and their record against the Latics is good. They've won all four of their previous home League games against Wigan, scoring nine and conceding three. In fact the Lancashire side have failed to beat the Gunners in eight Premier League attempts, home and away, losing seven of them. Their solitary point was from a goalless draw at the DW Stadium in March 2008. Last season, Arsenal won 1-0 at home in December (when a certain Adebayor got the decisive goal) and 4-1 away in April (when Mido gave Wigan a half-time lead before Theo Walcott, Mikael Silvestre, Andrey Arshavin and Alex Song redressed the balance in the final 30 minutes).

The Gunners are joint top scorers in the Premier League, with 13 goals from their four matches to date. Having scored 21 times in seven games in all competitions, putting the ball in the net is not Arsenal's biggest problem; conceding them at the other end is. And having shipped a couple of penalties and a couple of own goals in their last three outings, it is clear that an all-round tightening up is imperative if they are to regain their early-season momentum.

Martinez Stirred, Not Shaken

Wigan will be encouraged by Arsenal's defensive fallibility, having scored in all three of their away games in league and cup this season, and they should approach their trip to the Emirates in good heart after recording a 1-0 home victory over West Ham United last weekend. It was the Latics' first win since the opening day of the season.

Indeed, they will arrive in north London having produced an inconsistent start to the campaign, though new manager Roberto Martinez has made wholesale changes to the squad he inherited in the summer from Steve Bruce. The Spaniard is clearly stirred up for the challenge of testing his mettle in the Premier League after establishing an excellent reputation lower down the pyramid with Swansea City. Moreover, despite being annoyed by the manner of Wigan's capitulation to Championship side Blackpool in the League Cup, he has not allowed himself to be too badly shaken by the four straight defeats that followed an impressive victory at Aston Villa on the opening day; he now appears to be getting to grips with his squad.

Earlier this week Martinez commended the attitude of his players and said he could see signs that his ambitious plans were beginning to bear fruit. He is noted for the attractive, possession football he encourages his teams to play, which suggests that the clash with Arsenal - themselves cavalier exponents of the passing game - will be an open and positive affair.

He expects to see his squad gradually fulfill their potential, with key partnerships developing in different areas of the pitch and each player becoming a master in his specific role. Martinez is particularly excited about the way French midfielder Mohamed Diame and Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega have adapted to life in the Premier League, and believes there is a hunger running through his squad from players who still have plenty to prove.

However, he will also be anxious to improve on a poor away record in the Premier League: on their travels in 2008-09, the Latics won only four of their 19 games away from the DW Stadium. Moreover, Wigan are yet to claim the scalp of any of the Premier League's Big Four. If they needed any further motivation, a first League win against the Gunners would see Wigan jump into the top-half of the table, overtaking their hosts in the process.

FORM GUIDE

Arsenal

16 Sept (Champions League) v Standard Liege (A) WON 3-2
12 Sept (Premier League) v Man City (A) LOST 2-4
29 Aug (Premier League) v Man Utd (A) LOST 1-2
26 Aug (Champions League) v Celtic (H) WON 3-1
22 Aug (Premier League) v Portsmouth (H) WON 4-1

Wigan Athletic

12 Sept (Premier League) v West Ham (H) WON 1-0
30 Aug (Premier League) v Everton (A) LOST 1-2
26 Aug (Carling Cup) v Blackpool (A) LOST 1-4
22 Aug (Premier League) v Man Utd (H) LOST 0-5
18 Aug (Premier League) v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) LOST 0-1

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

The club's two leading goalkeepers are still sidelined - Manuel Almunia has a virus, while Lukasz Fabianski has a knee injury which will keep him out of action for another month - so 21-year-old Vito Mannone will continue between the sticks. The Italian endured a torrid start on Wednesday when the first two times he touched the ball were to pick it out of his own net. Thereafter, despite some wayward and panicky kicking, he did what he had to capably enough.

There is a chance that striker Robin van Persie will be fit to resume his place in attack after missing the game in Liege because of a damaged knee-cap sustained against Manchester City - when he got off the mark with his first goal of the campaign.

But Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin may not be fit enough to start following the groin injury he aggravated playing for Russia. Wenger said Arshavin had a 10 per cent chance of facing Wigan.

Denilson, Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela, Johan Djourou and Samir Nasri are all still ruled out.

Last Starting XI (v Standard Liege): Mannone, Eboue (Sagna 80), Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Diaby, Fabregas, Song, Rosicky (Ramsey 70), Eduardo (Wilshere 86), Bendtner.

Probable Starting XI: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Diaby, Fabregas, Song, Rosicky, Bendtner, Van Persie.

Wigan Athletic

In contrast to Arsenal's injury pile-up, Wigan have an almost clean bill of health, their only casualty being Olivier Kapo. The midfielder is recovering from an injury to a medial knee ligament, but did make his comeback in a reserve match on Tuesday, scoring for the Latics against Manchester City.

That could persuade Martinez to name him on the bench; but the Spaniard has an otherwise full-strength squad available and could well select the same side that beat West Ham 1-0.

Last Starting XI (v West Ham Utd): Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Thomas, Koumas
(Scharner 65), Gomez (Sinclair 90), Diame, N’Zogbia, Rodallega (Scotland 72).

Probable Starting XI: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Thomas, Koumas, Gomez, Diame, N'Zogbia, Rodallega.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arsenal

Amid Arsenal's many current injury woes, the one bright spot has been the successful return to match action of Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky. Injured in a game against Newcastle United back in January 2008, Rosicky endured 20 months out of action with a complicated hamstring problem before making his comeback for his country in a 7-0 World Cup qualifier against San Marino earlier this month.

He then came on as a 51st minute substitute for Arsenal against Manchester City, scoring the Gunners' second goal, and played the first 70 minutes against Liege, when his perceptive passing stood out amid the misplaced efforts of most of his team-mates. The Czech has admitted he is still a long way from his best, but the Wigan game should give him another important opportunity to rehabilitate himself in the side, and his link-up play with Fabregas and the strikers could prove pivotal. Rosicky has faced Wigan twice before, and scored on each occasion.

Wigan Athletic

Colombian forward Hugo Rodallega scored on the opening day against Aston Villa and got the winner for the Latics against West Ham at the DW Stadium last week, poking the ball home from close range after 55 minutes when Robert Green had blocked a Jason Koumas shot. Rodallega's predatory instincts will again need to be sharp on Saturday if Wigan are not to leave the Emirates empty-handed.

The 24-year-old - who shares something with his manager as his full name is Hugo Rodallega Martinez - joined Wigan in January 2009 from Mexican side Necaxa and nearly scored on his debut against Liverpool, coming on as a 77th minute substitute and sending a powerful 25-yard free kick against the Reds' crossbar. He finished that first campaign in England with three goals from nine starts plus six substitute appearances, and now looks to be acclimatised to the Premier League. 'Rodagol', as his compatriots call him, could prove a handful for the Arsenal defense.

PREDICTION

It's all about restoring the faith for Arsenal this weekend: they've had a rocky patch, losing two League games in which they played well enough and often looked the better side, but shot themselves in the foot with some inept defending. They need to show they have remedied those weaknesses while going for the jugular at the other end. With the top four playing each other on Sunday, the opportunity to re-establish their title credentials presents itself, and Arsenal can't afford to miss it. They will meet a Wigan side buoyed by victory over West Ham and inspired by their manager's belief in their potential; but a home win looks the likeliest outcome.

Arsenal 3-1Wigan Athletic

Graham Lister, Goal.com

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