Premier League Preview: Arsenal Vs Wigan

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Premier League match time dawns at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal get ready to host Wigan on January 22 in match week 24.

This is a second leg meeting in between the sides, this season the initially that was played in Wigan's residence ground, the DW Stadium, on December 29, 2010, was a two-2 draw. The game exposed the Gunners' porous defence, as the hosts went into the lead on 18 minutes, off a penalty taken by Watson, after N'Zogbia was brought down by Koscielny.

Arsenal drew level on the back of  Arshavin's strike in the 39th minute, and appeared heading for a comfortable victory when Bendtner put them ahead five minutes later, off an assist from Arshavin.  Squillaci's own goal on 81 minutes brought the hosts level, and a point from a game the Latics were not expected to win.

Although Wigan would have been pleased with the result, for Arsenal it was a poor game on countless counts. Inexplicably, Wenger created 8 changes to the squad that had beaten champions Chelsea in their previous game.

Apart from a weak back-line, the Gunners were also much less useful in midfield. Djourou would have been a greater alternative to Squillaci in defence. Likewise, getting Denilson in midfield did not translate into superior control  for Wenger's men.

There was no holding midfielder and that meant that Arshavin was pushed back into a defensive mould, a role he does not relish Arsenal missed the services of Clichy and Johan.

Wenger was also peeved with a handball from Wigan in the penalty area on 89 minutes that referee Wilson chose to ignore. But in the finish, Wigan deserved a point from the game for their perseverance.

Head to head, in 8 league meetings among the sides, the Gunners have established a five-1 benefit over the Latics.

In their final 5 league games, Arsenal have won 3 though drawing the remaining two Wigan have had 1 win and 3 draws though losing the one remaining game in their final five.

Arsenal have had a reasonably decent house record this season with 6 of 10 games won, when losing three and drawing the 1. Wigan's away record has been much less impressive, with 2 wins in 10 games on the road, whilst drawing and losing 4 games each and every.

In their newest game away against West Ham in match week 23, Arsenal won by a three- margin Wigan's final game at household against Fulham ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

On current form, Arsenal need to prevail over Wigan, on January 22.

Arsenal's starting eleven against West Ham had Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy,  Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri and Van Persie. Denilson, Arshavin and Gibbs were employed as substitutes.

Wigan had the following men in their starting eleven against Fulham: Al Habsi, Stam, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Watson, N'Zogbia, Thomas, Diame, Figueroa and Rodallega. Di Santo and McArthur played as substitutes.