Arsenal vs Wigan preview - Wenger: Gunners going four it

Posted Saturday, January 22, 2011 by PA

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal players fully intend to "go for it" as they target an unprecedented quadruple.

The Gunners host Barclays Premier League relegation-battlers Wigan on Saturday looking to maintain the momentum from a 3-1 midweek FA Cup third-round replay win at Leeds, which followed the 3-0 drubbing of bottom club West Ham.

Next week Arsenal, who last won a trophy in 2005, take on npower Championship strugglers Ipswich in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit and stay on course for Wembley, while a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup is there for the taking against League One Huddersfield.

The small matter of a Champions League showdown with Barcelona is also fast approaching and Wenger knows his men must continue to produce their top form as they battle for success on four fronts.

"We are motivated to give our best in all the competitions, that is for sure," the Arsenal manager said. "What can we win? We are not in a position to say that, we are in a position where we want to give our best and afterwards we will see where we end up.

"What is good is we are in mid-January and we are still in all four competitions, so let's go for it."

Wenger continued: "We have shown since the start of the season that we can beat everybody. We feel that we are getting stronger and stronger.

"We have a stronger belief than at the start of the season and our togetherness is better than at the start.

"I believe there is more to come out from this team and am convinced we will be stronger and stronger.

"We are on a good run in the championship and every game becomes crucial now."

Arsenal now have four home matches in succession and Wenger will not accept any more below-par performances at the Emirates Stadium.

"We know our home form can make a huge impact on our success and that's why if it is Wigan or anybody else at home we want the three points," he said.

"Everybody has learned since the start of the season that there is no room for taking anybody lightly because everybody can beat everybody in this league."

Wenger, whose side head into the weekend two points behind both Manchester United and Manchester City, added: "We are in a period where we want to show we can get our best out in every single game.

"When you play so many games, that is not easy."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes Arsenal are "reaching their peak" as he prepares to take his side to the Emirates Stadium.

The Spaniard was in the crowd at Elland Road on Wednesday to see the quadruple-chasing Gunners knock Leeds out of the FA Cup and he feels he has seen signs that Wenger`s men are preparing to hit top form.

Wigan have lost just one of their last seven league games but go into the match in the relegation zone and Martinez knows the hurdle that faces him this weekend is one of the biggest in the competition.

"It (Wednesday) was a great game of football, a real cup game," he told Latics player. "I felt that Arsenal controlled the game well but Leeds had a proper go.

"They were in the game for the majority of it against a very talented side that I felt started to reach their full potential and hit a very good moment of form.

"It`s fair to say they`ve got a group of 18 players and anyone can play. I think that`s credit to the work they`ve done over the last two or three seasons.

"They are very young players but technically very gifted, they know how to play, the manner that they always play, and whoever plays, you`ve got fresh legs and fresh ideas."

Wigan`s inability to turn good performances into wins this season has seen them thrown into the relegation mire, a place Martinez is adamant they do not deserve to be.

But, with 48 points on offer between now and the end of the season, he believes that the imminent return of some key players, such as Victor Moses and James McCarthy, can help see them to safety.

First, though, they must travel to north London and a venue Martinez thinks his players should enjoy.

He said: "I`m looking forward to it, it`s a game where we can enjoy the occasion and try to win a football match.

"It`s one of the best football grounds around European football. That makes it a special environment, a special event. As a footballer, you want to be involved in those games. You want to be tested against the best and in the best football arenas."