Wigan the benchmark for Gunners turnaround: Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes Saturday's Premier League meeting with Wigan presents his Arsenal squad with every bit as big a challenge as last week's showdown with Chelsea.

The Gunners came through that one with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge that has revived hopes of them mounting a title challenge.

But Wenger knows all the hard work that went into last weekend's victory will be undone if his side founder against Wigan in the way they have done against the likes of Stoke and Hull already this season.

“Many eyes will be turned on Arsenal to see how we respond tomorrow,” the Frenchman said on the eve of the meeting with Steve Bruce's well-organised Wigan.

“Let's believe in this team – and I say that to the fans as well – let's get behind them because they want to do well.

“I feel at the moment they need a bit of extra support and that is what we want our fans to do tomorrow.

“I believe we have the quality, we have the desire, the talent and the spirit, so that should make us go into the game tomorrow with a strong belief. We want to play well and of course we want to be consistent.”

Wenger is painfully aware that a win over Manchester United earlier in the season was followed by successive defeats.

“I never questioned the deep desire within this squad, nor did I question their potential,” Wenger said. “There was a lot of scepticism around the squad at the start of the season which affected our supporters, our environment and affected the team a little bit.

“We have dropped some points against so called teams who do not have the ambition to play in the top four.

“We had a very good weekend because instead of being 13 points behind, which would have happened in the worst scenario, we are now in a stronger position and we want to build on that.”

Arsenal will be without centreback William Gallas on Saturday due to a calf problem. The French defender has been blamed for some of Arsenal's recent woes and Wenger was obliged to strip him of the captaincy after he criticised some of his team-mates last month.

But Wenger insisted he wanted the defender, who was outstanding against Chelsea, to stay at the Emirates.

“The problem in the modern game is that you always have to fight against an environment which attempts to destabilise you just by creating news,” he said.

“I cannot fight against that, I can only give what we want inside the club – we want to keep William with us because he is an important player in the squad and what other people try to provoke, or try to put out in the media, we cannot master.”

Wigan have won their last two matches — the first time they have managed that under Bruce — and will have Egyptian striker Amr Zaki available again after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury.

Midfielder Michael Brown acknowledges that the timing of Wigan's visit to the Emirates could have been better.

“They will think they have a sniff of the title again and will be keen to get the points at home,” Brown said. “It will be tough on us, but we have a bit of confidence about us at the moment.”