Arsenal will be looking to avoid an FA Cup upset when they welcome League One Wigan Athletic to the Emirates for a fourth-round tie on Sunday.
The Gunners, who find themselves four points clear at the Premier League summit, will be hoping for serene progress against an opponent battling against relegation to League Two.
This clash in north London will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and is scheduled to kick off at 16:30.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Wigan
Arsenal (4-3-3): Kepa; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Norgaard, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Arsenal team news vs Wigan
Arsenal have a number of injury concerns ahead of the contest and they will definitely be without Mikel Merino, who recently underwent surgery on a broken bone.
Max Dowman is also on the sidelines and he has been joined by German forward Kai Havertz, who is set for a couple of weeks out of action because of a muscle issue..
Mikel Arteta is expected to utilise his squad depth and that should mean a start in goal for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has been the keeper of choice in domestic cup competitions this season.
William Saliba missed Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, but the Frenchman may return in defence alongside Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Cristhian Mosquera in a rotated backline.
Martin Odegaard picked up a knock in west London in midweek, meaning Eberechi Eze is likely to continue in midfield. Christian Norgaard could be handed a rare start alongside Eze and Declan Rice in the engine room.
Up front, Bukayo Saka is fit again after a hip issue and could form a front three with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
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Arteta out to create more magical FA Cup memories
The FA Cup holds happy memories for Arteta and he will be eager for his Arsenal side not to let their concentration levels drop when hosting Wigan.
The Spanish tactician won the FA Cup in his first season in charge of the Gunners, but expectations have been raised since that success.
The north Londoners sit atop of the Premier League table, fending off Manchester City by four points at the moment, while they also have a League Cup final against the Citizens on the horizon and have qualified for the last-16 stage of the Champions League.
Of course, the opportunity of an FA Cup won’t be passed up lightly by Arsenal, who are the record 14-time winners of the oldest national football competition in English football.
However, the Premier League is the key target for Arteta’s men this season and seeing their six-point lead cut to four after the draw at Brentford will have increased the nerves.
Arsenal may look to make full use of their squad against League One strugglers Wigan on Sunday, but there is no side in the country with a deeper squad than the Gunners.
It remains to be seen how many, if any, trophies Arsenal can win this term, but they will need to progress past the Latics to keep their FA Cup hopes alive.
