Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic: Watch Live Online, Preview, Statistics, Team News

Arsenal will go into this home game as favourites after enjoying a brilliant run of form in the last few months, winning nine out of their last 10 league matches. Wigan Athletic's low position in the table could be a big distraction for the Gunners but Arsene Wenger has warned his players that any show of complacency can be deadly in their pursuit for the last automatic Champions League qualification spot.

The Latics are 17<sup>th in the table but their recent fighting performances against top teams have made everybody take notice. Roberto Martinez's side shocked Liverpool, looked menacing against Chelsea last week and managed another shock win, this time over league leaders Manchester United, in midweek. They are full of confidence and belief as they travel to the nation's capital to face an Arsenal side which boasts the second best home defence in the league, having conceded just 12 goals, second only to Manchester City's 10.

Meanwhile, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea do not play in this gameweek, meaning the Gunners have a chance to open up an eight-point gap over their nearest rivals. As both teams know the importance of this match, it is expected to be a mouth-watering fixture for the neutrals.

Wigan has only beaten Arsenal once in its Premier League history, in a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at the DW Stadium in April 2010, a crucial result to their relegation survival that season.

Team News: Arsenal will once again miss the services of centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who is serving the final game of his two-match ban for picking up his 10<sup>th yellow card of the season last weekend. The Gunners will also be without left-back Kieran Gibbs, who only has a 50-50 chance for this match, while Jack Wilshere, Per Mertesacker, Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby remain long-term absentees.

Striker Hugo Rodellaga is the only doubt for Wigan as the Colombian is fighting against time to prove his fitness, having been out with a knee injury for more than a month. Other than him, Martinez has a full squad to choose from and is likely to field the same team that beat Manchester United in midweek.

In the reverse fixture in December, the Gunners cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory at the DW Stadium with goals from Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen, Gervinho and Robin van Persie.

The match will be available live on vslive.tv in the UK and FOXSoccer.tv in the US.

Probable Starting Line-Up

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Santos, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Benayoun, Walcott, van Persie

Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Moses, Maloney, Di Santo