Arsenal, Wigan have no room for error tonight

Tottenham, who missed out on the Champions League despite a fourth-place finish last season because Chelsea won the competition, have 69 points to Arsenal’s 67.

Defender Paul Scarner said the match against Arsenal was just as important as Saturday’s FA Cup final.

For Arsenal, failure to defeat Wigan Athletic tonight would leave their hopes of a 16th season in the Champions League in severe jeopardy; for Wigan Athletic, anything other than a win would quickly sour the taste of a memorable FA Cup final shock.

As end-of-season fixtures go, the clash at the Emirates could hardly have more importance to the two sides involved.

“Both teams will go for it, it’s a huge game for both of us,” Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told reporters. Arsenal slipped out of the top four on Sunday as neighbours Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal down to beat Stoke City 2-1 in their penultimate match of the season.
Tottenham, who missed out on the Champions League despite a fourth-place finish last season because Chelsea won the competition, have 69 points to Arsenal’s 67. Victory against Wigan and then at Newcastle United on Sunday would guarantee Wenger’s side finished above Spurs but there is only a cigarette paper between the north London rivals.

Tottenham, who face Sunderland on Sunday, are relying on Wigan or Newcastle to take points off the Gunners.