Arsenal vs Wigan Prediction: Martinelli has got fire in his belly

Arsenal welcome Wigan Athletic to the Emirates Stadium this Sunday, February 15 (16:45 GMT, TNT Sports 1). Most Premier League leaders would look at this competition as an inconvenience, sadly. But the Gunners have sentimental memories of the famous cup. Arsene Wenger’s last major trophy. Mikel Arteta’s first. The north Londoners have lifted the FA Cup 14 times, more than any other club.

Wigan have their own romantic memories of this competition. Who can forget Ben Watson and all that in 2013? Read on for my Arsenal vs Wigan predictions.

Team News

Midfielder Martin Odegaard’s injury woes continue. A knock suffered on his return to action against Brentford rules the former Real Madrid man out of this one.

Also set to miss out is defender William Saliba. The France international is out with an illness.

Arteta’s long-term injury headaches include Kai Havertz (muscle), Max Dowman (thigh) and Mikel Merino (foot).

Wigan can welcome captain Jason Kerr back. But the Latics will have to do without James Carragher, Baba Adeeko and Luke Robinson.

Arsenal vs Wigan Odds

Arsenal are runaway favourites at 1/16 while Wigan are priced at 40/1. Fun fact, you could get that price on James ‘Buster’ Douglas to beat Mike Tyson back in 1990. We all know how that one turned out…

A draw in 90 minutes is 12/1. Over 4.5 total goals is marketed at 6/4.

Martinelli to score anytime @ 11/10

A beneficiary of any rotation from Arteta could be Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazil international has found Premier League starts hard to come by this season. But a hat-trick in the third round against Portsmouth makes him a likely inclusion against another lower-league foe.

The Premier League has not been a happy hunting ground for Martinelli, who has scored just once in the competition so far this season. But six goals from seven Champions League games and that Pompey treble suggest that danger still lurks in the 24-year-old.

Wigan total corners above 2.5 @ 9/4

Arsenal and set pieces. Set pieces and Arsenal. There was a temptation to try and predict how many thousands of corners Arteta’s men would win in this one, but the value is actually in the opposition.

Wigan have won the fifth-most corners in League 1 this term, averaging 5.33 won per game. Obviously, you’d expect a reduction in that number against in-form Premier League giants. But over 2.5 seems manageable considering the Gunners conceded six corners to a Portsmouth side they comprehensively hammered.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.