English Premier League - Preview: Wigan Athletic versus Arsenal
The two teams go into this midweek Premier League fixture in quite different positions in the league table. Arsenal secured victory over the title holders Chelsea on Monday, and now rest on the third spot. In a sharp contrast, Wigan lie on the third last
spot in the table, wallowing in the relegation zone on goal difference.
Both sides will be looking to secure maximum points at the DW Stadium for two very different reasons. Wigan may not be the underdogs that they seem, having defeated Arsenal last year in April. That defeat did great damage to the Gunners, who were left stunned
when the Latics managed to hit home three times in the ending ten minutes of the fixture. The final match score (3-2) showed that Wigan had come back into the game, and subsequently won it, despite going two down. Roberto Martinez’s team will be looking for
inspiration from their victory against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wolves-c40952 that was played out on Boxing Day, a game which resulted in the Latics climbing to safety out of the relegation three.
Both sides have so far played eighteen games in this season, with the Gunners achieving 35 points compared to Latics’ 19. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal have won eleven matches in their campaign, with Martinez’s men achieving four wins. Wigan have drawn and lost
seven matches this season, whereas Arsenal’s total of drawn matches and defeats amounts to seven. The Gunners have lost five games this season and conceded twenty goals in total. They have scored 37 goals as compared to Latics’ 15.
The last victory that Wigan achieved against Arsenal was the match in April on the DW Stadium Turf, which was also the first ever time the Latics won against the Gunners in Premier League history. Arsenal have the upper hand in terms of the last ten matches
against Latics, having won a majority of eight. Martinez’s men have achieved three victories and have been defeated thirty five times in their forty three Premier League fixtures when clashing with the traditional ‘big four clubs' - namely Manchester United,
Arsenal, Chelsea and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809.
Martinez’s team are the least effective in terms of goal scoring in the league this campaign, as they have managed to hit home only 15 times in their 18 games.
Arsenal have the second highest average in achieving points from away fixtures. The Gunners have obtained 17 points from nine games, a record which only Manchester City have managed to top. Wenger’s men have achieved victory in four out of their previous
five matches played away from home. The Gunners must improve their performance concerning set pieces, as that is where they have let in 45 percent of their goals from. Gunners’ player http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Theo-Walcott-c34873 is on a brilliant run of form, compared to his last season's
performance. The English international has scored five goals in the Premier League so far, which is the same amount he had managed in the last two seasons combined. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marouane-Chamakh-c24294 is particularly effective in away matches, having slotted in home three times
in their last four away fixtures.
Wigan have http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Franco-Di-Santo-c14060, as both players have been injured. Skipper
Cesc Fabregas will not play tonight’s game, as the Spaniard was booked in the clash against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 which was his fifth yellow of the season. The Gunners may have new faces in their line-up as Wenger is expected to give Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh and
Sebastien Squillaci a chance.
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