Last year Wigan Athletic upset the odds to win the FA Cup just days before being relegated from the Premier League. Managing to defend their crown after an unspectacular season in the second tier would be even more miraculous. However, the competition’s strongest remaining side stands between them and a place in the final, as they meet Arsenal on Saturday.
Wigan Athletic vs. Arsenal, 2014 FA Cup semifinal: Preview, TV schedule and how to watch online
Championship club Wigan Athletic continue the defence of their FA Cup crown against Arsenal on Saturday.
Alex Livesey
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The pressure on the Gunners' boss Arsène Wenger is mounting, after Arsenal's season imploded in spectacular fashion. The FA Cup is now the only hope they've got of winning silverware for the first time in almost nine years, and failing to win it from this position could be the final nail in the Wenger coffin.
Wigan will be without both Ben Watson and Chris McCann through injury, while Arsenal continue to battle a huge injury list. Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere and Laurent Koscielny are still all out, while there are doubts over the fitness of four further players, including first-team regulars Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomáš Rosický.
Wigan Athletic injuries and suspensions
Out: Ben Watson (broken leg), Chris McCann (knee). In doubt: None.
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Abou Diaby (knee), Theo Walcott (knee), Jack Wilshere (foot), Mesut Özil (hamstring), Laurent Koscielny (calf). In doubt: Kieran Gibbs (ankle), Serge Gnabry (knee), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin), Tomáš Rosický (thigh).
Projected lineups
Wigan Athletic: Ali Al-Habsi; Jean Beausejour, Leon Barnett, Iván Ramis, Emmerson Boyce, James Perch; Jordi Gómez, Josh McEachran, James McArthur, Callum McManaman; Nick Powell.
Arsenal: Łukasz Fabiański; Nacho Monreal, Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker, Bacary Sagna; Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta; Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla, Tomáš Rosický; Yaya Sanogo.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 5:07 p.m. local, 12:07 p.m. ET
Venue: Wembley, London, England
TV: Fox Sports 2 USA (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), ITV 1 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.)
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