Follow every kick as Wigan Athletic take on Arsenal in the Premier League
on 18-Apr-2010, kick off time 13:30
Wigan Athletic v Arsenal Live
Two managers with similar footballing philosophies but currently inhabiting different ends of the table meet at the DW Stadium on Sunday, with Roberto Martinez's struggling Wigan side desperate to take some vital points from Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. The Latics have managed just one win in their last six league games and now find themselves just five points clear of the drop-zone. Central to their poor form has been the lack of a goal threat. Indeed, Martinez's side have netted just four goals in total in their last ten league games. The omens do not look good for the home side against the Gunners either. Wigan have taken just one point from nine Premier League encounters with Arsenal, while the Latics have mustered just one goal in their last five league clashes with the Gunners. Following their defeat at White Hart Lane in midweek, a result which all but killed off their title aspirations, the Gunners will be eager to get back to winning ways and put that painful defeat behind them. However, the Gunners have kept only two clean sheets in their last 14 away matches, and that lack of defensive steel will give Wigan hope of snatching some priceless points against the north London giants. One positive Wenger can take from the midweek derby defeat was the successful reintroduction of Robin van Persie, "Van Persie hasn't kicked a ball for five months. You could see straight away he gave us something different and something special," said Wenger. While van Persie is back in action, the Gunners' treatment room is still chock-a-block, with Cesc Fabregas, Aaron Ramsay, William Gallas, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs and now Thomas Vermaelen all sidelined. Alex Song and Andrey Arshavin also remain doubts for the trip north. Martinez saw his side booed off after their goalless draw with Portsmouth on Wednesday but defended his side's performance, saying: "There's a bit of disappointment and if decisions had gone our way it could have been different, but there are no easy games." Richard Kingson remains a long-term injury victim for Martinez, while defender Emmerson Boyce will struggle to return from a back injury in time for Sunday.
Source: DSG
