Preview: Wigan Athletic v. Arsenal

Vermaelen scored twice against Wigan in September. He is now out for the season. Pic via Guardian.

DW Stadium, Wigan

Sunday, April 18

13:30 BST, 8:30 a.m. EDT

• Referee: Lee Mason
• This Match, Last Year: Wigan 1 - 4 Arsenal
• All-Time in All Competitions: 10 Arsenal wins, 1 Wigan win, 1 draw
• Arsenal's Recent Form: W-W-W-D-W-L
• Wigan's Recent Form: L-L-W-L-L-D

Predicted Line-Up

Almunia

Sagna - Campbell - Silvestre - Clichy

Eboue - Nasri - Diaby

Rosicky - Bendtner - Van Persie

Subs from: Fabianski, Traore, Eastmond, Merida, Eduardo, Vela, Walcott

Out: Song (knee), Denilson (groin), Arshavin (calf), Vermaelen (calf), Fabregas (leg), Gallas (calf), Ramsey (leg), Gibbs (foot), Djourou (knee)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Alex Song is expected to miss one match with inflamed cartilege in his knee, while Denilson is doubtful with a tight groin. Andrei Arshavin remains sidelined with a calf injury.
• Thomas Vermaelen suffered a calf injury of his own in the first half on Wednesday and is now the sixth Arsenal player deemed out for the remainder of the season. That means that of those six, four are defenders and three are center backs.
• Arsenal have only picked up four points out of a possible nine in their last three league games and have won one of their last five across all competitions. This has come after a six match winning streak in league play.
• Arsenal have lost their last two matches after going unbeaten in nine across all competitions.

Wigan News and Notes

• Gary Caldwell is unavailable, serving the third game of a three match ban after being sent off at Manchester City.
• Wigan drew 0-0 at home with Portsmouth on Wednesday. In terms of injuries, Emmanuel Boyce returned from back/hip problem, but Hendry Thomas was not picked in the side with a quadricep injury. Richard Kingson remains a long-term injury with a groin problem.
• In terms of results, the Latics were booed off the pitch by their own supporters are the scoreless draw. A win could've been Wigan seven points outside of the drop zone; they instead sit five points above peril.
• Wigan have won twice in their last 16 matches across all competitions, a stretch which included a crash out of the FA Cup at home to League Two Notts County in a replay.
• Wigan have not scored more than once in each of their last 14 league matches, dating back to a 2-0 win at Wolves on January 16.

Match Facts

• Wigan Athletic has never defeated Arsenal in league play (Wigan's first top flight year was 2005/06.) Arsenal has won 8 of the 9 league meetings; the other was a 0-0 draw in March of 2008, part of Arsenal's post-Eduardo season collapse.
• Wigan defeated Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg at home 1-0 in 2006, their only victory against the Gunners. Their 2-1 loss in North London in the second leg meant the Latics advanced on away goals. Arsenal trailed the tie 2-0 and needed three goals in the final ten minutes to advance; they only got two; a Fitz Hall own goal in the 81st and a Tomas Rosicky goal in the 85th.
• Arsenal have outscored Wigan 8-3 in league matches at Wigan, and 13-3 in league matches at home.
• The referee is Lee Mason. The only Arsenal match he has officiated this year was a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup. He's officiated three for Wigan: a 3-1 win at Burnley, a 5-0 loss at Manchester United, and a 2-1 loss at Blackburn Rovers. He's shown 105 cards this season in 33 matches, 100 of them yellow, 5 red.