Arsenal will face Wigan at 11:30 PM Sunday 15/2, Hanoi time. The Gunners are looking to rebound after a 1-1 Premier League draw at Brentford earlier this week, a result that allowed Man City to narrow the title race gap to four points.

Arteta stated that Arsenal have put aside the pressure from the Premier League title race to shift their focus to the FA Cup. "We play a different competition every three days, so the whole team is accustomed to that rhythm," he said during the pre-match press conference against Wigan. "We will review the recent match, take the positives and lessons to improve, then return on Sunday with the utmost determination."

Manager Mikel Arteta instructs Jurrien Timber during Arsenal's training session on 14/2. *Photo: Arsenal FC*

Since winning the trophy in the 2019-2020 season, Arsenal have not progressed beyond the FA Cup 4th round. In their two most recent appearances at this stage, the Gunners lost 0-1 to Southampton and Man City respectively.

Arteta admitted his team has not performed well enough in recent eliminations but emphasized the team is physically and mentally ready to break the jinx against Wigan. "In cup competitions, you must be excellent on the day. The shirt or logo you wear means nothing if you do not prove it on the field. We will have to perform against Wigan," the Spanish tactician stated.

Wigan are currently going through a difficult period in League One, the third tier, as they have dropped into the relegation zone. However, they caused a surprise in the previous round by eliminating Preston North End – a contender for a Championship play-off spot – to earn the right to face Arsenal. Poor form led Wigan to part ways with manager Ryan Lowe after 11 months in charge. The duo of Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow are currently leading the team on an interim basis.

Barrow believes the pressure at the Emirates could become a motivating factor for his team. He said: "Fear can sometimes be positive. Like nervousness, if you do not have it, it means you do not truly care. The important thing is to know how to control it and turn it into motivation."

Arsenal have won 10 of their last 11 encounters against Wigan at home in all competitions, with the sole exception being a Premier League defeat in 4/2012. In their most recent meeting with Wigan, Arsenal drew 1-1 then won 4-2 on penalties in the FA Cup semi-final. At that time, Arteta was still a player and successfully converted a penalty.

Hong Duy (according to Arsenal.com)