After our tired effort against Fulham, Arsene rested most of the troops in the midweek Carling cup game so we can expect a full squad, well at least the available players. Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky miss the game through injury which is a shame as they would have made our bench much stronger, those absentees may open the door for the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who impressed once again in the Carling cup. A

After our run of successive victories a draw and a defeat in our last two games almost feels like a mini slump even if the games where in different competitions. It is important that we get back to winning ways as quickly as possible to maintain the positive momentum that the team have worked so hard to get after a difficult start.

Wigan are going through a difficult time right now but we cannot expect an easy game, in fact our record at the DW stadium hasn’t been great of late and we have been on the wrong end of some late goals. I am not sure if I can handle that again today unless of course we are coasting at three goals to the good.

Without wanting to speak too soon, you get the sense that this current Arsenal team are less likely to suck the ball into our own net in the latter stages like our teams of previous years.

These games are usually entertaining affairs and I expect no different today. Unlike the McLeish brand of ‘football’ Wigan set out to play football and try and score goals so hopefully we will have two teams looking to pass the ball and create chances.

After our tired effort against Fulham, Arsene rested most of the troops in the midweek Carling cup game so we can expect a full squad, well at least the available players. Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky miss the game through injury which is a shame as they would have made our bench much stronger, those absentees may open the door for the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who impressed once again in the Carling cup. A regular seat on the Arsenal bench is a great position for an Arsenal youngster to get to and it will be down to Chamberlain to make an impact whenever called upon. A place on the bench is not a certainty as experienced players like Arshavin, Benayoun, Park and Chamakh are all experienced attacking players who will expect a place amongst the substitutes at least.

Robin van Persie has scored one more goal [13] than the entire Wigan team this season but my eyes will be on his team mates. The goal scoring shackles have to be removed at some point and I am hoping that today is the day for others to improve their goal return. Aaron Ramsey has been finding his way into the opponents penalty area much more of late and he should have scored against Fulham following a Walcott cut back. Gervinho needs to find some composure when the whites of the keepers eyes come into vision. He has been lashing at chances instead of guiding the ball into the net whilst Theo Walcott needs to find himself into the positions that Gervinho finds himself into frequently.

When the goals are more equally shared then I expect the team to start winning games more convincingly as long as they can maintain their defensive organisation.

Like at Norwich recently, if our attacking players play well then I expect an Arsenal win. Ramsey, Gervinho, Walcott and van Persie need to be sharp, if they are not then Mertesacker needs to be on his game and avoid mistakes.

Hopefully the midweek rest will have freshened up the squad and we can see the best of our attacking game.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up: