Arsenal v Wigan; Premier League Match Preview
This is it. Sort of. Well, it could be. Anything other than a win and the likelihood that Arsenal get the Champion’s League spot that is their minimum level of success will be minimal. They take on a team in Wigan, fighting for relgation but could very well be punch drunk from their exasperating last minute win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Honestly, trying to handicap this match and try and figure it out how it’s all going to go down is hard. And it made so because you just don’t know how either of these teams will lineup. Wigan, before Ben Watson’s wonderful nearpost header, looked leggy and tired as they tried to keep pressure on City. City were disinterested but still with their talent forced Wigan to exert themselves. Before the header, it surely looked likely to go into extra time and you worried for Wigan because they all simply looked gassed. Regardless of whether they were partying or not after claiming their trophy, they’ve had essentially less than 72 hours to prepare for this match. Who knows how fresh they will be.
For Arsenal. Well, we all know the tale. They’ve been brilliant at moments and frustratingly mad at others. They’ve had 10 days to prepare for this match. How they take the pitch and exert themselves early on may not be indicative of how they could play. What does that mean? In the last two weeks Arsenal have scored the first goal inside the first minute only to play the remaining 89 or so minutes like a scared cat. They are nervous and tight – that much is evident. They simply know what losing means at this point.
In fairness it has been a remarkable run since losing to Tottenham. The question is can they keep it up. Can they find that extra gear to apply pressure on Wigan and keep it up. Wigan likely won’t be able to sustain any prolonged chasing of the ball. As open as Martinez likes to play it likely seems to be disaster for them if they play too open. They’ve got pace but it can’t last as we saw against City. Whether they will be able to come out with the same verve they did against City will be something to keep an eye on.
Arsenal actually need to play patiently early on. Control the ball and exert pressure on their weary legs. If Martinez has them press up high early, it could work to Arsenal’s advantage just to play their form of tiki-taka passing. Now the problem with that is, there are always mistakes and if you don’t go for the juggular early you might make a mistake that puts you on the back foot early. Not something Arsenal or the Arsenal faithful would want.
There are lots of stats out there that talk about Arsenal’s success this season with teams in the lower half of the table. There are also stats that talk about how well Arsenal do at their last home game of the season under Wenger. But the fact is all that means very little when the players take the pitch. It comes down to the men who take the pitch and wear the uniform. There is no silverware for today’s win. Just an acknowledgement that a chance to play in the Champion’s League is very much in their own hands.
Should Arsenal not make it – then it clearly shows that this team did not deserve to be in the Champion’s League. We can talk about near misses all we want. And it’s true Arsenal have probably hurt themselves more than any opponent have. But that disection of an end of season corpse still has another week or so to go. For now it’s the ol’ “One Game at a Time” mantra.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Theo Walcott. In the last two matches Theo’s speed has caught everyone off guard as he has put the ball in the net in record speeds. Sadly in those games he has offered very little else. He needs a full 90 minutes of his opening effort today.
Wigan. Callum MacManaman. He was MOTM against City until Best’s winner. He was an attacking threat every time he had the ball. He got tired by the end of the game but still was a constant threat down the opposition’s left.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (knee), Giroud (suspended -1)
Wigan: Beausejoir (hamstring), Crusat (knee), Ramis (knee), Figueroa (groin), Miyaichi (ankle), Pollitt (thigh), Stam (ankle)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Walcott 13
Wigan: Kone 11
Assists Leaders:
Arsenal: Walcott 10
Wigan: Maloney 8
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1
Wigan: 0
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.4
Wigan (away): 1.1
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 1.2
Wigan (away) : 1.7
Last Five:
Arsenal: WDWDW
Wigan: LWDLL
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 31
Wigan: -23
Match Official:
Referee: Mike Dean. Matches: 26. R3 Y97. 4Pk
Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel: 2:45PM
UK: Sky Sports 1: 19.45 GMT
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Wigan: 1
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dag pointed out that arsenal has gone on a fine unbeaten run since losing to spurs. this is not insignificant. it highlights the fact that wenger was able to recognize deficiencies and, boldly, make the required changes internally (nicely done, arsene). i believe the most relevant change has been wenger dropping vermaelen. if arsene hadn’t done that, arsenal would probably already be eliminated from champions league contention.
we were all excited by how quickly vermaelen seemed to look the part in the premier league. his no-nonsense tackling and that thunderbolt of a left-footed shot made wenger look like a transfer market genius. however, towards the end of the season, i began to have concerns.
arsenal played barcelona in the champions league and the verminator was exposed in a big way by xavi and ibrahimovic. they took his aggressive nature and used it against him. i started paying more attention to him and was all but convinced that he would be a liability. vermaelen simply couldn’t realize that this game is not all about aggression and power. these qualities certainly have a role, especially in the bpl, but it can’t define you as a player. i declared that the jury was still out on him. you guys know the rest of the story. i’d certainly like arsenal to keep him, while adding ashley williams.
still looking forward, arsenal need a protege for arteta. as controversial as it might seem, i wouldn’t be opposed to bringing denilson back. there’s not a lot of difference in how he and arteta play. arteta’s vast amount of experience, compared to a 21 year old denilson is the one clear difference. denilson’s played a lot of football on loan and he could have a future at arsenal, being that he’s still an arsenal player. i’m just sick of sao paulo. if they wanted the player, they should have bought him outright, instead of loan him until his contract ran out. i would not allow denilson to go on loan there again; anywhere but sao paulo.
lastly, arsenal need a center forward. there are plenty of rumors. i like remy but he’s just been arrested for rape. there is also higuain. he’s not the fastest but he’s awful clinical. don’t know how well he’ll adapt to the bpl. then there is stevan jovetic. regardless, arsenal need a #9.
so that’s it, a central defender, a young defensive mid, and a center forward. if arsenal sign the right players in those three positions, while extending fabianski and sagna, arsenal should close the gap. we’ll see.
Josh, we’re 18 points off the top of the league… and United are going to bring in new players, and improve. They always do. They don’t stand pat on their achievements. ManCity will definitely be buying … they won’t stand still, they have a gap to close as well. And Chelsea will have Mourinho back, and be bringing a few big name players as well. They have a great young nucleus, and perhaps the worlds best manager coming in…
so, unless we bring in some significant players… not just your 8 Million dollar player here, who nobody really knows… and a cast off there, who we outbid Fulham or Sunderland for…
but SIGNIFICANT players.
We need IMPACT players in the middle of the pitch, and we need to ditch the flotsam and jetsum as well…
Who cares about Denilson, and where he is loaned, and why he hasn’t been bought … If he wears and Arsenal shirt again, then I have seen it all from this club. I’d rather see Vela back at Arsenal, and he’d probably refuse, and retire.
CB – who is LEGIT
CESC FABREGAS!
Edin Dzeko.
Alex Song.
;)
With something like that coming in, we might have a sniff.
It’s amazing that it was 9 YEARS AGO today, that Arsenal’s Invincible Team completed that magical season. How times have changed. We pretty much sold every star in that team, and dismantled the greatest Premier League Team in history, for what? Ca$h?
David Platt has left ManCity … of his own accord… with them firing Robert Mancini.
Do we look to bring the likes of Platt and Vieira back to Arsenal in coaching / management roles? Isn’t it time we start planning for the future without Wenger? Incorporating upcoming younger management potential?
I would imagine the match against Newcastle in the season’s finale, should be pretty straight-forward… as Arsenal are in really good form (see DAG’s post below), and Newcastle are in really bad form. They don’t have a damned thing to play for… so it leaves zero excuses for Arsenal screwing this up.
When do we have open bus tour for getting Wenger’s 4th Place trophy? and do they get their medals right after the match?
Arsenal have only dropped 9 of the last 45 that were available from the last 15 matches
Their current form in their last matches 9 matches (since losing to Spuds). WWWWDWDWW.
A draw today against Wigan, is probably WORSE than LOSING.
If we lose, Wigan will be 1 point behind Sunderland, who play at Tottenham in the last match.
and Sunderland will have to play to win.
If we draw, Wigan are down… on goal differential, they’d have no chance… and Sunderland won’t care about the match @ Tottenham.
So Arsenal better throw everything forward in trying to get the winning goal in the 2nd half.
Anyway see Manny’s reflexes in full effect over the weekend in the Watford/Leicester match? Man, when that guy has no time to think he can pull some out. (Led me to wildly over-estimate his ‘skills’ at one point.) Fantastic ending.