Arsenal's defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday, their first lost against their North London rivals in 21 League meetings, their hopes of winning the title are diminishing. Arsenal are six points adrift with four games remaining and by the time they arrive at Wigan, that gap may have increased to nine points as Chelsea play on Saturday night.

Wigan are not out of relegation danger yet after being held to a 0-0 draw by relegated Portsmouth at home on Wednesday night. That leaves them just a point better off than West Ham, who they visit the following weekend. And they go into the game having gone 14 games since they last scored more than one goal in the Premier League.

In nine League meetings, Arsenal have won eight and drawn one against Wigan, whose only points out of a possible 27 came from a goalless home draw just over two years ago.

Arsenal were able to give a run-out to Robin van Persie at Spurs and the Dutchman could start for the first time since November. But Thomas Vermaelen was injured early on at Spurs and is out with a calf injury, while Cesc Fabregas, William Gallas, Aaron Ramsey and Kieron Gibbs are also missing. Alex Song could return while Andrei Arshavin has an outside chance of being available.

Wigan (4-5-1): Kirkland; Melchiot, Gohouri, Bramble, Figueroa; N'Zogbia, Diame, Scharner, McCarthy, Rodallega; Scotland.
Arsenal (4-4-2): Almunia; Sagna, Song, Campbell, Clichy; Denilson, Nasri, Diaby, Rosicky; Van Persie, Bendtner.
Referee: Lee Mason.

Match

[size=13pt]I want gunners to be second on the table.Manutd thrid[/size]

chelseabmw:

[size=13pt]I want gunners to be second on the table.Manutd thrid[/size]

u are just everywhere i go

Wigan v Arsenal (1330 BST)

I think Arsene Wenger will play Robin van Persie from the start - and, as I've said already, the best players have a big effect on the rest of the team. The Dutchman will be like a dog with a new bone, keen to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup.

This is a tough one for Wigan, but then it was always going to be a hard season for them. If you keep on selling your best players, it will catch up with you eventually.

Not only that, but manager Roberto Martinez hasn't managed in the Premier League before. But they'll be OK because Burnley and Hull will go down. They will also be stronger for the experience.

Prediction: 0-3

Match preview

Portsmouth v Aston Villa (1600 BST)

Portsmouth's goalless draw against Wigan in midweek was a really good result. I don't think many would have been surprised to pick up the paper the next morning to find the Latics had won 4-0.

What did Pompey have to play for? They'd just beaten Spurs in the FA semi-finals and already knew they were relegated.

However, I think it will be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show this weekend. Villa are quick and very strong on the counter-attack, and I'm not sure Pompey will be able to deal with that.

Prediction: 0-2

Abayomi-taiwo

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odiaero:

u are just everywhere i go

[size=13pt]Yes ooo.U know we are same persons but with diff usernames, lol [/size]

COYG ! One last push.
. . .though sticks and stones may break my bones. . . .

Those boys had better win dis fixture$by a huge margin

v3:

Those boys had better win dis fixture$by a huge margin

0-10 victory for Arsenal won't be bad.

@V , someone's done that stuff for me, it's been all plain sailing

You play a relegation threatened team and you predict a 10-0 win?
I laugh in mute

We have 3 Englishmen starting for Arsenal.
Heard it's the first time in over 5 years
And has Almunia played his last match for Arsenal?

Why are Arsenal always lost when Fab4 and Song don't play
Disgusting

and AW
why is Van Persie on the bench
and why is Clichy playing a free kick?

I hope we win this. By God Grace.

Dear Lord,wat is wrng wit AW?wen did clichy tk fk's?No rvp on?

Izit nice 2 say diaby iz useless

Clichy lukz injured

I hope the opportunity to ask the golden question rears its head today

Eastmond's been learning a lot from Dennilson and not Song

Do we have a shootn phobia

Arsenal
You never learn
I will rather see Theo whack the ball against the goalie than pull it back to no one.
Rubbish

Why can't van Persie play the 1st half,
score a hatrick and go and rest?
instead of the other option

Dear God. . .Wigan? Diaay cnt hold or lay a gd pass? @hnic,o boy i tire man

Walcott opens the scoring
It's 1-0 to the Arsenal
What a pass by Nic

Walcott! Yay!

Nice 1 TW!

Theo almost gets number 2

v3:

Walcott! Yay!

It's the English players showing grit today.
Eastmond isn't doing badly either

Sagna has been awful,diaby. . I dnt knw wat AW sees in dis kid .TW gets d goal. .RVP cumz in n scores 6 mur

Anything to report guys? who is making a good impression? how is Eastmond doing? seems Diaby is having a shocker, is he tired or something or has Barcelona broken his spirit? he's been having a shocker since the Brum game where he shone like a million start, I thot the lad had crossed the rubicon.

@v3 and HNIC una dey work for police ? How many questions in 45 mins ?

Dudu,it seems eastmond is makn diaby luk lik a reserve player. .I hv a feelin we mite c vela or dudu