Bruce Facing Baptism of Fire at Emirates Stadium

Steve Bruce became Wigan’s new manager earlier in the week, and his first game in charge of the relegation threatened side comes at the league leaders, Arsenal.

Bruce jumped from his post as Birmingham boss, before he was pushed by incoming chairman, Carson Yeung. He briefly took the helm at Wigan in 2001, but hopes for a longer and move fruitful stay at the club despite crippling injuries and terrible form.

The Latics need to turn around a seven game losing streaking, failing to score in five of their last six.

By complete contrast Arsenal are bristling with confidence.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored his seventh goal of the season in the recent 3-1 win at Reading, it was also the Gunners’ 1,000th goal in the Premiership, and a fitting celebration of that milestone.

Arsenal’s fluid passing game make them irresistible at home against struggling teams like Wigan, but they will be handicapped by the absence of midfield talisman, Cesc Fabregas, who is suspended.

The Spaniard’s contribution cannot be overstated with six league goals and seven assists. Tomas Rosicky is perhaps one of Arsenal’s few under-performers, and in the absence of Fabregas, the Czech international will get his chance.

Arsenal could also be without french pair Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby who both suffered injuries in training with the national sides meaning that we might see a strange Arsenal midfield of Gilberto and Lasanna Diarra for this game.

UPDATE :
Robin Van Persie is now in full training - and is likely to come off the bench at some stage against Wigan - which helps Arsenal.

THE STATS

Arsenal have made a good fist of their home matches so far - picking up maximum points in nearly every game.

Arsenal Home Form (5-1-0)
03/11/07 D 2-2 v Man_Utd
20/10/07 W 2-0 v Bolton
07/10/07 W 3-2 v Sunderland
22/09/07 W 5-0 v Derby
02/09/07 W 3-1 v Portsmouth
25/08/07 W 1-0 v Man_City

Arsenal's home games against Wigan usually look like home bankers - and although Arsenal do win them - there is often a goal in it for the visitors too.

Head to Head Form (2-0-0)
11/02/07 Arsenal 2-1 Wigan
07/05/06 Arsenal 4-2 Wigan

You can see why Wigan needed to change somewthing - the away form was simply getting worse and worse - with the 0-4 thumping at Spurs the final straw.

Wigan Away Form (0-1-5)
11/11/07 L 0-4 v Tottenham
27/10/07 L 2-3 v Birmingham
06/10/07 L 0-4 v Man_Utd
22/09/07 L 1-2 v Reading
01/09/07 L 0-1 v Newcastle
25/08/07 D 1-1 v West_Ham

THE VERDICT

The fixture gods have been kind on Arsenal so far this season.

Given the absence of both central midfielders and an international break - this home match against Wigan would have been almost exactly the game that they wouyld have preferred.

No surprises to see that I think that Arsenal can win this - but with a completely changed engine room I don't think that it's going to be a smooth flowing performance from Arsenal.

The Pick :

Arsenal 2-1 Wigan (or 2-0)

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Arsenal 73% - Draw 20% - Wigan 7%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

The prices are poor - but I do expect ARSENAL to win.

With Arsenal at less than full strength it may be worth trying the old ploy of backing a slow start and taking a HT/FT bet on on DRAW / ARSENAL.

This is paying at 5.50 at BETFRED

HANDICAP BETTING :

I don't think that Arsenal will thrash Wigan - and so taking WIGAN +2 GOALS on the asian handicap could be a surprisingly good play.