Saturday 12 April 2014

Wigan have 'no chance' if Arsenal bring their A-game - Podolski

Wigan have "no chance" of reaching the FA Cup final if Arsenal play to their full potential, says a confidentLukas Podolski.

Either Hull City or Sheffield United will await in the final but the Gunners have seen their season falter in a flash after topping the Premier League standings for most of the season.

After elimination in both the fourth round of the Capital One Cup and the Champions League's last 16, the FA Cup is the only realistic remaining hope for Arsenal to end their nine-year silverware drought.

Wigan have upstaged top-flight teams Manchester City, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace en route to the semis but Podolski says that Uwe Rosler's men would not be able to resist if Arsenal click into gear.

"We have the chance now for the FA Cup and we will see what we can do [on Saturday] and I can promise we will give all of what we have to go through to the final," the Germany international told reporters.

"Everyone thinks [Wigan] are a small team or that Arsenal will win the game easily. It's one of the biggest games for the club, for Wigan, in the last years so it won't be easy.

"But I think we are strong enough, playing in London so it's nearly a home game for us. I think it will be a great atmosphere and it will be my first match there.

"If we play with spirit and fight and play our game then they have no chance to win against us."

Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell had earlier urged caution against the Championship club, telling theLondon Evening Standard: "I've got this message to the Arsenal team against Wigan – respect them – just respect the team you're playing against.

"This Wigan side has achieved upsets before and, if you start disrespecting their team and if you start disrespecting the FA Cup, there could be trouble.

"Arsenal players shouldn't think they're not going to be on the receiving end of another cup upset by Wigan - because they could be."

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