Arsenal’s quest to win four trophies this season continues tomorrow as they face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
The Gunners take on the former Premier League side knowing that whatever team Mikel Arteta puts out, it should be enough to see off lower league opposition.
However, Mikel Arteta will be cautious about throwing things away and with the quadruple very much still on the agenda, getting safely through is key.
Predict the score of Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic and tell us who will win the Man of the Match award!
Now, Chris Sutton has mentioned that quadruple suggestion as he predicted what is going to happen.
Chris Sutton’s prediction for Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Arsenal’s players know deep down that they have to win this one with whatever XI goes out.
Having not faced Wigan in 12 years, things will feel a lot different from the days when the Latics were a regular feature in the top flight.
Now, though, Chris Sutton has suggested it’s the perfect time for Arsenal to move past the fourth round for the first time since 2020.
“This is the first meeting between these two clubs since the 2014 FA Cup semi-final, when Arsenal won on penalties and Mikel Arteta scored in a shootout. The Gunners went on to beat Hull in the final.
Things have changed a lot for Wigan since then, and not in a good way,” Sutton wrote for the BBC.
“They have just sacked their manager Ryan Lowe after sliding into the League One relegation zone, and it’s hard to see them forcing a shootout this time, no matter how many changes Arteta makes.
Arsenal have not had much joy in the FA Cup since Arteta won it again as manager in 2019-20, a few months after taking charge.
They have not been past round four since, but they are going to make it to the last 16 this time, I’m sure of it. In fact, they have got so much strength in depth now that, while for years Arteta has not been able to win anything at all, he could feasibly win four trophies this season.
“Is the Quadruple on? That could be the question we are asking in the final few months of the season.”
Arsenal should make a statement against Wigan
One of the criticisms levelled at Arsenal in recent weeks has been a lack of goals.
While in certain games the Gunners look a massive threat, some have suggested an over-reliance on set-pieces and ultimately, it does need resolving.
This game against Wigan is a chance for Arsenal to really show that they can dismantle teams. No disrespect to the Latics, but if Arsenal play like they can – whatever the XI – then we could be looking at six plus goals with ease.
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Scoring that many would breed confidence into the squad and prove that it’s not all about defence for the Gunners.
It will certainly be interesting which of the big hitters Mikel Arteta picks. Indeed, there’s a chance the starting XI might be stronger than any of us imagine.
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