MIKEL ARTETA will roll the dice with a much changed Arsenal side today as the Premier League leaders welcome League One stragglers Wigan to the Emirates for their FA Cup fourth round showdown .
The Gunners boss has one eye on that thick end of a trophy laden schedule with his side still fighting on FOUR fronts, top of the pile by four points, a League Cup final against Man City looming in March, and Champions League action to come .
But Arteta’s got headaches. Proper ones.
Kai Havertz has copped another injury setback and joins Mikel Merino (foot surgery, out for months) on the naughty step . William Saliba missed the Brentford draw with illness and is touch and go . Even skipper Martin Odegaard was spotted limping heavily after that one, another knee knock .
Young Max Dowman’s still out with that ankle issue .
“We try to make sure that everybody is a big part of what we are doing in different competitions,” Arteta said Friday. “Sunday will be the same” .
Translation? Don’t expect the big guns.
Kepa’s between the sticks, with Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori all in line . Myles Lewis Skelly could even get a run out in midfield .
Gabriel Martinelli, he of the Portsmouth hat trick in round three, is chomping at the bit, while Gabriel Jesus should lead the line . Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze provide the spark behind .
Wigan? They’re an absolute mess.
Twenty second in League One, no win in EIGHT league games, and manager Ryan Lowe given his jotters last week . Interim duo Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow couldn’t stop the rot against Reading midweek .
The Latics last met Arsenal in that 2014 FA Cup semi, a penalty shootout heartbreaker at Wembley . They’ve plummeted since.
James Carragher yeah, Jamie’s boy is a major doubt . Luke Robinson, Baba Adeeko and Harry McHugh also missing .
Kick off’s 4.30pm, live on TNT Sports .
The bookies have it 4-0 . Probably being kind to Wigan.
One things for sure, Arteta’s men won’t get a better chance to keep that quadruple dream alive.