Emmanuel-Thomas a target for relegation-threatened Wigan

Wigan’s need for goals to ensure their Premier League survival this season could see them approach Arsenal in a loan deal for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is happy to allow some of his future young stars to gain some experience at other Premier League clubs.

This ploy worked perfectly last season when Jack Wilshere spent some time at Bolton and he has since broken into the Arsenal first team during the current campaign.

Emmanuel-Thomas is another youngster rated highly at Arsenal and his stock has only risen thanks to some impressive performances in the reserves this season.

This has attracted Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, particularly as strikers Victor Moses and Franco di Santo are both expected to miss a number of games injured, while Hugo Rodallega is to miss three games through suspension.

Therefore, out of form Mauro Boselli is the only recognised striker at the club and goals are needed if Wigan are to defy betting odds of 4/6 to be relegated this season.

Wigan are currently third from bottom of the table and this is largely because of their shortage of goals, as they have managed just 13 in their 16 Premier League games so far.

Furthermore, Emmanuel-Thomas would provide Wigan with some useful versatility as he is good physically, can shoot, pass and run and it is not knowing his best position that may have limited his first-team opportunities at the Emirates to date.

Any deal is unlikely to be completed ahead of Wigan’s next Premier League game away at Everton, who are opposition that they have lost to in six of their last seven meetings.

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