Wigan Athletic can follow up FA Cup success with victory over Arsenal and keep their hopes of Premier League survival alive, insists boss Roberto Martinez.
The Latics travel to the Emirates Stadium needing a win to stay in top-flight contention – just three days after victory over Manchester City saw them lift their first ever FA Cup trophy.
And despite the Gunners entering the clash fresh from a weekend break, Martinez believes his side can repeat the triumph they enjoyed in a 2-1 victory last season.
“It’s important to know we have done it before. We do not have to do anything extraordinary. The level of performance was very similar on Saturday,” the Spaniard told the club website.
“You need to find a complete performance. It would sound such a difficult task if you don’t realise that’s what we’ve just done and we’re capable of repeating that.
“All we can do is prepare ourselves the best possible way, making sure the physical demands we had on Saturday allow us to go and perform.
“Physically it gives a real advantage to Arsenal when they should be the ones pushing and setting the tempo of the game but we need to adapt and play our own game.
“It is the focus of going into another competition and fighting for our own survival and that’s enough motivation just to be as good as we can.”
Jean Beausejour could return for Wigan after missing the FA Cup final, but Maynor Figueroa, Ivan Ramis and Ronnie Stam are still side-lined.
Defender Emmerson Boyce is set to make his 500th club appearance as the side looks to secure its spot in the Premier League with two games remaining.
And despite Wigan having the league’s joint-worst defensive record – conceding 67 goals – Martinez insisted his players are fully focused on the job in hand despite their historic win.
“It’s an incredible achievement and that’s going to take our football club into a completely different way of being perceived from the outside,” he said.
“But now we’ve got to focus on the final two games of the league, especially the one on Tuesday is a real final within the league.
“We’ve had a lot of messages from the fans already and they’ve been coming to the training ground. Their support is incredible.
“They are convinced we are going to perform exactly the same way on Tuesday and that’s the only thing that matters.”
Image courtesy of ITV Sport, via YouTube, with thanks.
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