Match Preview: Arsenal v Wigan; Premier League Match Day 34
This has all the makings of a QPR waiting to happen unless we are absolutely careful and committed. Wigan look beatable and admittedly when I look at the lineup I ask, how did this squad beat Manchester United. But they did. And any Gooner who thinks that this match will be a cake walk.
When Arsenal thrashed Wigan 4-0 at the DW it really looked for all intent and purposes that Roberto Martinez’s men were going to be on their way to the Championship. In lesser clubs with lesser leadership an owner or a board would’ve sacked the manager and been done with it. Just ask Wolves. Well, that hasn’t happened. Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan has stuck by his man and Roberto Martinez has Wigan on a run of form almost similar to the Gunners. Hell, if we’re honest they were very unlucky to come out on the losing end against Chelsea.
Martinez has his men committed to playing the right way. You can classify that as you want. But he wants them to play football and being from a region that is better known for its Rugby side, he is earning fans. Like we mentioned previously, Wigan before January were relegation fodder and one of the clubs instantly earmarked for going down. Sure, they are only two points out but with all the results from the weekend in the books, they are safe – for now.
But the task for Wigan has gotten harder. They take the pitch against an in form Arsenal side. Arsenal have 27 from 30 points and are scoring at will and with ease. Furthermore against Wigan, the Gunners have only lost 1 time in 13 Premier League matches. And to make matters worse, Arsenal have won all 9 games against Wigan that have occured on the Gunners home pitch.
Right now, I am not sure this Arsenal squad needs any introduction. They are playing more like the team we had hoped for all these years that we seemed (may or may not be true) to have an abundance of talent. They are controlling games and putting in a workman effort into every match they play – save the blip at QPR.
If Tottenham fans are blaming Arsenal for their sides current poor form (and they are, oh boy they are), then Arsenal have Spurs to thank for their run of form. Whilst, Arsenal had been turning around before Spurs, it was that match that set the tone for their run in. The usual March crumble was replaced by a focused effort to overhaul their neighbours and get back to playing like the club they are with the heritage and pedigree of Arsenal. Should Arsenal win they will open up an eight point lead on Tottenham and Newcastle and 10 points on Chelsea – with none set to play a league game until Saturday.
All Arsenal need to do at this point, is maintain the status quo. Take one game at a time and focus on that game. Additionally, any thought or desire to overlook and opponent should be put aside and the team should only be reminded of the epic failure at Loftus Road. That wake up call happened at the right time in my opinion and focused this team.
However, Arsenal need to maintain that focus. I thought in a few games like Villa and last week’s Wolves match when playing an opponent that was dead in the water, we resorted to cutsey passes, little tricks and less direct play. As good as Arsenal is and has been lately it needs to learn one final thing – when you have an opponent on the mat – you don’t take your foot off their throat. When Arsenal get cute, the lose focus, shape and purpose, things slow down and it allows the opposition to get behind the ball. It also allows the opponent thoughts of jumping back into a match. After 10 minutes at Wolves it should’ve been lights out. But there a few chances to come from the 10 men side.
Should Arsenal jump out to an early lead, it can ill afford to let Wigan back in. This match, and the one on Saturday versus Chelsea can pretty much lock down the Champion’s league qualification. Wenger’s men need to know this and focus on it.
How the Match Should Play:
Why break that which ain’t broken? Arsenal are at home, a virtual focus. They’ve lost only twice there and since the turn of the year have not conceded any more than two goals a game. The fast passing, direct movement and full team pressing combined with their scoring prowess has made the Emirates a virtual fortress this season. Arsenal need to just stick with the game plan that has brought them so much success. When they do it and do it well, there are very few teams they can’t beat. Wigan are still hungry to move further out of relegation danger. I do not suspect they will be your typical away team and play with only one man up top. They will come to play (just ask United) Arsenal need to know this and play to it because it plays right into their strengths. Overall I suspect a really good match. Still, I can’t see anything other than an Arsenal win at home.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta. Raise your hand if you were scratching your head about this deal at the transfer deadline? All Arteta has done since day 1 is show a work rate we could all be proud of and a performance in an Arsenal shirt that says maybe his best isn’t yet beyond him.
Wigan. Ali Al Habsi. Besides buying into Martinez’s system, Al Habsi has to be the biggest reason why the Latics are doing so well. He’s just been tremendous for the resurgent Wigan team.
Projected Starting XI:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Koscielny (suspended – 1) Diaby (hamstring) Coquelin (hamstring) Frimpong (knee) Mertesacker(ankle) Wilshere (ankle)
Wigan: Pollitt (elbow)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie: 27
Wigan: Di Santo 4, Moses 4, Gomez 4
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 4
Wigan: 0
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.2
Wigan (away): 1
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): .8
Wigan: (away): 2
Last Five:
Arsenal: WWLWW
Wigan: WLWWD
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 25
Wigan: -26
Match Official:
Referee: Andre Marriner (Matches 17, R5 Y61)
Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel 3:00PM
UK: Sky Sports 1 2000 GMT
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!
www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Wigan: 0
The Last Word
With the Fabrice Muamba and Stylian Petrov medical ordeals, we were reminded of the fragility of sport. We were further reminded of that this past weekend when Serie B side Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini died of a cardiac arrest after collapsing on the pitch. Mario was 25 and left behind no family except a disabled sister who he acted as guardian for. In a supreme act of giving and kidness, Udinese Captain Antonio di Natale and his club have promised to make sure that Mario’s sister is permanently cared for. It is acts like this that remind that even with all the crap and selffishness of the modern day sports star there are those that rise above that and show their class. We doff our caps off to di Natale and Calcio di Udinese.
The FA Cup final is set, Liverpool v Chelsea. And I am okay with that. At least I won’t feel compelled to root for a team I can’t stand, I under no way wanted Spurs to get a chance at the cup. Anyway, I felt bad for David Moyes and Everton, if ever a manager and a club deserved a shot at the cup it was their side but unfortunately a mistake led to the eventual winner and Liverpool, the most expensive cup team in the league, goes through.
Chelsea go through after a trouncing of Spurs. There is a lot of dispute about the 2nd goal and whether or not it was completely over the line and Martin Atkinson calling it in favor of Chelsea. This is the second week in a row that Martin Atkinson has had a howler of match. The first you might remember was Easter Sunday at the Emirates. Secondly it definitely screams out for video technology. There are a few images floating out there and the evidence is inconclusive. Video evidence like Hawkeye would’ve been able to confirm whether or not it was a goal. Still though as we all said the ‘phantom goal’ doesn’t change the fact that for the last 20 minutes of the match Spurs were an utter shamble. And now I can take glee in the fact that Spurs fans everywhere blame Arsenal for their steady decline into their normal positions.
That’s it for this one. We’ll try and be in GDC (workload permitting).
Until then. . . Stay Goonerish!!!
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