Gunners seek bully´s instincts against EPL´s little guys

A home encounter with a mid-table minnow should be enough to have one of the English Premier League's giants smacking its lips in anticipation.

But, if this season has taught us anything, it is that Arsenal are not a typical member of the top flight elite.

Arsene Wenger's side apparently likes nothing better than to confront one of their Big Four peers, having already toppled Manchester United and Chelsea this term.

It is the games against the lesser lights which have been their undoing, so Wigan Athletic's trip to the Emirates stadium will provoke familiar flutterings of dread in the stomachs of the club's followers on Saturday.

It is remarkable in itself that Arsenal remain in contention in the title race.

Wenger's side have already suffered five defeats this season but they are still in touch thanks to the stumbles of their elite rivals, with Chelsea (12 points dropped at home), Liverpool (held at Anfield by Fulham, West Ham and Stoke) and Manchester United (three wins out of eight on their travels) all equally inconsistent.

At least the message that Arsenal – already beaten by Fulham, Stoke and Hull this term – will achieve nothing until they develop a killer instinct against the smaller clubs appears to be getting through.

“Since the start of the season, after every disappointment we have said that we had to react and try and avoid more mistakes,” said defender Gael Clichy.

“But I think now is the time for us to say that we cannot afford to drop any more points.”

The danger for Arsenal is that their stumbles tend to come just when they have managed to breathe new life into their season.

A laudable away win at West Ham prefaced a dismal draw at home to Tottenham and the defeat at Stoke, while the victory over United was followed by defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Now, six days after storming Stamford Bridge, they face a Wigan side who would normally travel to north London determined to do little more than keep the score down. Given recent history, it is a scenario fraught with danger for Arsenal.

“I hope we have learnt our lessons,” Clichy added. “If we beat Wigan, we can say that we have improved a little bit. If we don't, it will be the same as after the Manchester United game – that was a big game but then we had a big disappointment.

“We are wary of Wigan. But a game is a game: we need to play with a lot of desire because we know these are the kind of teams that want to win against the big sides.

“But our confidence is very high and our spirit is fantastic. I just hope the season is starting for us now and this is a fresh start for all of us.”

Wigan manager Steve Bruce would echo that sentiment. The Lancashire club were confronting a long, tough winter after a poor run of results left them hovering above the bottom three but back-to-back home wins have given them breathing space.

Bruce will also be able to welcome back Amr Zaki, arguably the Premier League's buy of the season, after missing the last four weeks with a hamstring injury.

“We've everyone fit and training now which is just what we want,” Bruce said. “At Newcastle three weeks ago, we were without four or five players, which really stretched us. We have a pretty sparse squad even when most are fit, so we need to avoid picking up injuries if we can.”