Andrey Arshavin targets 'landslide' victory over Wigan
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Your support makes all the difference.Andrey Arshavin hopes Arsenal will secure a "landslide" victory over relegation battlers Wigan at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow to keep their Barclays Premier League title push on track.
The Gunners continued the momentum from last weekend's 3-0 trashing of bottom club West Ham with a convincing 3-1 FA Cup third-round replay win at Leeds on Wednesday night.
However, with just two points separating the top three sides, Arshavin knows Arsenal cannot afford any more below-par performances.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't beat Wigan at their stadium. The next game will be held at the Emirates," Arshavin said on his official website, www.arshavin.eu.
"The performance which Arsenal showed recently in the championship allows us to achieve the landslide victories, so I hope that the upcoming clash will be no exception.
"We need to catch up with the two Manchester teams."
Arshavin could find himself back on the bench tomorrow, having played 70 minutes against Leeds.
The Russian has been criticised in recent weeks for some disappointing displays, but showed a bit of decent form at Elland Road, and was unlucky not to score in the first half when denied by a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel.
Arshavin, though, accepts Arsenal's all-round displays must improve if they are to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Ipswich next week and reach Wembley.
"As for the domestic cups, I think that we were lucky and keep on being lucky with the draw," he said after the win at Leeds secured a home fourth-round clash with Huddersfield.
"We already know our next opponent in the FA Cup. Actually, to be honest, I do not even know the league they play in.
"We still have one problem in the second cup. This is Ipswich, that we have to beat at the Emirates with a difference of two goals. If we do it, we will move forward."
Striker Marouane Chamakh (knee) and Denilson (hip) are minor concerns ahead of the Wigan game.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, meanwhile, will again be out with his shoulder problem, while Abou Diaby (calf) and Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) continue their rehabilitation.
"Denilson has been hit on the hip and we will see how he responds," said manager Arsene Wenger.
"Chamakh looks good, so overall I don't think we have lost anybody at Leeds. They are small doubts."
Wenger added: "Diaby and Squillaci are not far away but they will not be completely ready for the weekend. They will be one week I think.
"Fabianski is still out unfortunately with his shoulder. It still gives him pain and we have to be patient about that."
Defender Kieran Gibbs, meanwhile, has backed Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas' leadership qualities.
Fabregas' abilities as a natural leader have been called into question by Denilson, according to reports of a television interview he gave in Brazil.
Wenger, though, insisted the comments were mistranslated, and now Gibbs has come to Fabregas' backing saying the Spain World Cup winner has been a great help to him off and on the pitch.
"I've spent quite a bit of time with him, away from training as well and for such a young person he's got such a wise head on him," Gibbs said.
"Cesc has helped me greatly and I can only thank him for that."
Elsewhere, Bolton's signing of David Wheater could open the door for England centre-half Gary Cahill to move to Arsenal in a £10million deal.
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