Premier League preview: Wigan v Arsenal

Arsenal will travel to Wigan on Wednesday full of confidence after a morale-boosting 3-1 win over London rivals Chelsea just two days earlier.

Midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott were instrumental in the victory, both scoring as they ran Chelsea’s defence ragged and moved up to second in the Premier League table.

Arsenal have struggled in recent years to beat other sides in the ‘Big Four’ but Monday’s victory may just give Arsene Wenger’s side the self-belief they need that they can compete with the best.

The highlight of their victory was the manner in which it was achieved, with Arsenal holding onto the ball for long periods and tearing apart the Blues defence with incisive passes and creative movement.

The Gunners have been in terrific form of recent, winning five of their last six matches in all competitions with their only loss a close defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The likes of Samir Nasri, who has scored four goals in his last six league games, and Walcott have been driving Arsenal of late and will ensure Wigan’s defence will need to play to the best of their abilities.

Arsenal will also take heart from their impressive away record, which has seen them win four of their last five Premier League away matches.

Left-back Kieran Gibbs (sprained ankle) is in line for a return to the squad but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (foot) and Thomas Vermaelen (achilles) are longer-term absentees.

Like Arsenal, Wigan Athletic are also in form and are unbeaten in three matches – with their last defeat coming coincidentally against the Gunners.

Wenger’s side were 2-0 winners in the Carling Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium with the goals coming from Nicklas Bendtner and an Antolin Alcaraz own goal.

But after that defeat, draws against Stoke and Everton lifted spirits among Roberto Martinez’s men before they produced an important 2-1 win at Wolves in Molineux.

The win saw Wolves drop to the bottom and lifted Wigan out of the bottom three to 16th.

Martinez will be hoping his side can repeat the form they showed in September and October as they went on a six-match unbeaten streak.

Midfielder Tom Cleverley – on loan from Manchester United – has been in a rich vein of form recently and, with three goals in his last four games, is providing useful support to top scorer Hugo Rodallega.

Emmerson Boyce (gashed leg) and Franco Di Santo (ankle) could make a return to first-team action but the likes of James McCarthy and Victor Moses will not return for at least the next fortnight.

Wigan will hope for a repeat of their clash last year at the DW Stadium, as they overturned a two-goal deficit to snatch a 3-2 win thanks to an injury-time winner from Charles N’Zogbia.

Arsenal still held a two-goal advantage with 10 minutes remaining but threw away the win, with a howler from Lukasz Fabianski meaning the goalkeeper is sure to come under pressure from the home fans this week.