• Premier League

Arteta wary of Wigan threat

Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal will be celebrating a win at the Emirates tonight © PA Photos

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Arsenal Mikel Arteta has warned his team-mates to not underestimate relegation-threatened Wigan in Tuesday night's crucial Premier League match.

Wigan need to follow up their FA Cup triumph with three points at the Emirates if they are to have any hope of staying up, while a victory for the home side will go a long way to sealing a Champions League spot.

The Latics can guarantee their survival should they defeat Arsenal and then Aston Villa at the weekend, and Arteta is expecting a tough battle.

"They will play for their lives," Arteta said. "For them, it's massive to stay in the Premier League. I'm sure they will give everything they've got. It's a massive game for us and it's going to be tough.

"I think everyone from the staff to the fans have to be ready to help. It helps when you have the fans behind you and we have examples when they have been absolutely magnificent. You just play with an extra man. The confidence and belief they give you just throws you forward.

"That's what we need. We need to have an atmosphere. It's the last game of the season at home and I think people are going to be up for it."

Arteta said he was unsure how Wigan's Wembley success will affect them, but after Roberto Martinez's men picked up a deserved 2-1 win at Arsenal last season, Arteta knows the Lancashire side are more than capable of providing an upset.

"I don't know how much they've got in the tank but, whatever they've got, they are going to give it everything," the 31-year-old added. "They are a dangerous team as they showed here last year when they played against us.

"You never know what the reaction is going to be (to their FA Cup win). When you're not used to winning, you don't know what the reaction is going to be because you can't really compare with the past and the way they reacted.

"They have been playing very well and I don't think they've been rewarded with points when they've deserved them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.