Arsenal Set to Clash with Wigan: Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Wigan Athletic and Arsenal will clash for the first time in more than ten years this Sunday afternoon in their FA Cup fourth round encounter.
The FA Cup was the venue for their previous meeting, a semi-final clash in 2014 that Arsenal won narrowly via a penalty shootout at Wembley. Since that encounter, Wigan have dropped to League One and face the threat of relegation to the fourth division if they cannot improve their fortunes, with their current six-game streak without a victory leading to Ryan Lowe's dismissal.
Caretaker managers Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow are now working to stabilize the situation for the Latics, who sit in 22nd place, with the Arsenal fixture providing a welcome break from their relegation worries.
The Gunners will be eager to inflict more pain on what was previously a frequent Premier League opponent, and even a heavily rotated Arsenal squad should cruise through to the fifth round. Looking to bounce back from their disappointing result against Brentford in the Premier League on Thursday evening, Wigan could serve as the ideal opponent to restore confidence.
Victory would keep Mikel Arteta's side in contention for an ambitious four-trophy haul, with only an improbable upset capable of derailing that aspiration this weekend.
Here's Sports Illustrated's preview of this fascinating FA Cup matchup.
What Time Does Arsenal vs. Wigan Kick-Off?
What Time Does Arsenal vs. Wigan Kick-Off?
Arsenal vs. Wigan Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Arsenal vs. Wigan Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions, Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions, Last Five Games)
Arsenal (DWWWW) | Wigan (LLLLD) |
|---|---|
Brentford 1–1 Arsenal | Wigan 1–2 Reading |
Arsenal 3–0 Sunderland | Peterborough 6–1 Wigan |
Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea | Wigan 0–1 Lincoln |
Leeds 0–4 Arsenal | Wycombe 2–0 Wigan |
Arsenal 3–2 Kairat | Doncaster 3–3 Wigan |
How to Watch Arsenal vs. Wigan on TV
How to Watch Arsenal vs. Wigan on TV
Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App |
United States | ESPN Select, ESPN App, fuboTV |
Canada | Sportsnet World, Sportsnet Plus, Sportsnet 360 |
Mexico | Max Mexico |
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal will implement significant changes from the squad that secured a 1–1 draw at Brentford on Thursday evening, though Mikel Merino, Max Dowman and Kai Havertz remain sidelined for Arteta due to injury concerns.
Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka both made substitute appearances at the Gtech Community Stadium but appear doubtful to feature in the starting eleven against Wigan, while William Saliba's participation remains uncertain due to illness.
Players such as Kepa Arizabalaga, Ben White, Christian Nørgaard and Gabriel Jesus are expected to be included in the Arsenal starting lineup.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Wigan
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Wigan
Arsenal expected lineup vs. Wigan (4-2-3-1): Kepa; White, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Jesus.
Wigan Team News
Wigan Team News
Whelan and Barrow experienced defeat in their inaugural match as interim managers during the week, falling 2–1 to Reading at the Brick Community Stadium. They are expected to make minimal changes from their initial team selection when facing Arsenal on Sunday.
James Carragher, offspring of former Liverpool defender and current pundit Jamie, remains questionable for the fixture having been absent from recent matches, while Luke Robinson, Baba Adeeko and Harry McHugh are all anticipated to be unavailable.
Wigan Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal
Wigan Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal
Wigan expected lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Tickle; Aimson, Kerr, Fox; Hunt, Smith, Weir, Murray; Bettoni, Wright; Taylor.
Arsenal vs. Wigan Score Prediction
Arsenal vs. Wigan Score Prediction
Considering Wigan's terrible run of results—only four victories from their previous 15 matches and four consecutive losses—few will expect the League One club to have any chance when visiting Arsenal. It's hard to envision anything other than another convincing victory in the FA Cup for the Gunners, who defeated Portsmouth 4–1 in the previous round.
Arsenal have built a roster capable of managing multiple fixtures per week and their exceptional depth ensures quality won't diminish in this fixture. They possess the defensive strength, midfield excellence and attacking prowess to overwhelm Wigan comprehensively.