Wembley-loving Wigan to ensure Arsenal’s long drought goes on
Published:There aren’t many teams in English football who thrive on the underdog tag more than FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic, who are fast becoming acclimatised to the Wembley dressing rooms.
Now the Latics can make history for a second consecutive year by dumping out another favourite in this year’s semi final; Arsenal.
The Premier League club are priced as the strong 4/9 faves to win the match, with the draw at 7/2, but there is plenty of reason to stick it on the line and get behind Wigan at 6/1.
There is clearly something about the new Wembley which suits Wigan down to the ground, while for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger in particular, the sight of that famous arch must send shivers down their spines.
The Latics’ last two visits to the reconstructed stadium have seen them triumph to nil on both occasions, firstly against Millwall in the semis last year and then most famously against Manchester City to win it.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have only left the new Wembley with the taste of regret in their mouths, having succumbed on both of their previous visits, firstly losing 2-1 to Chelsea at this stage in 2009, and then infamously getting beat by Birmingham in the 2011 League Cup final by the same score.
A third successive 2-1 loss for Arsenal at the home of English football can be backed at 20/1.
It must be said that Arsenal have hardly had the easiest passage to the semis this year, beating Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton, but then Wigan have dumped out three Premier League teams themselves, including previous favourites Manchester City at the Etihad.
Uwe Rosler’s tenure has seen a sharp upturn in Wigan’s fortunes, where he’s propelled them from mid table to almost certain play-off contenders in the Championship, while Arsenal have just one win to show for their last six games.
This could mark a miserable end to a campaign which showed so much promise for the Londoners.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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