Saturday's key battles: Arsenal v Wigan

Victory at Chelsea last weekend put Arsenal right back in the title race but those three points won't mean much unless the Gunners can overcome a stubborn Wigan Athletic on Saturday. This season Arsenal.com will be identifying the key battles for the game. We will bring you all the statistics and information a fan could need so swot up now and come Sunday you will be impressing anyone who will listen with your new-found knowledge.

Player Profile - Emmanuel Adebayor

Titus Bramble

Emmanuel Adebayor v Titus Bramble
Emmanuel Adebayor, without a goal since scoring in Arsenal’s 4-4 draw with Tottenham in October, could lock horns with Titus Bramble on Saturday. If Bramble is a ‘confidence player’ then he is certainly brimming with it at the moment. The 27-year-old has lost only one of his seven tackles, completed 24 clearances and has notched his customary goal already this season but faces a striker with a point to prove. Adebayor’s stats speak for themselves; he leads the Arsenal assists chart with seven, has found the net on five occasions and has hit the target 16 times.

Denilson player profile

Maynor Figueroa

Denilson v Maynor Figueroa
In the absence of Theo Walcott, Denilson has found himself deployed on the right wing and he could start there against the Latics. The 20-year-old has adapted well to the shift and he already has four assists to his name this season. His opponent on Saturday could be Honduran international Maynor Figueroa. After a string of impressive performances at left back, manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that the 25-year-old’s loan deal will be made permanent in January. Figueroa has won 13 of his 18 tackles and has made some encouraging forays into the final third, pitching in with an assist and testing the keeper five times.

Player Profile - William Gallas

Emile Heskey

William Gallas v Emile Heskey
Despite intense speculation regarding Emile Heskey’s future at Wigan Athletic, there is no chance of the England international going through the motions against Arsenal. The ex-Liverpool hitman has enjoyed a resurgence at the JJB Stadium since his arrival in 2006 and he has continued to flourish this season. The 30-year-old has only struck twice this term but goals alone have never been his raison d’être. Fierce pace and power have made Heskey the ideal target man and William Gallas is sure to have a busy afternoon on Saturday. The Frenchman has notched once this season and boasts a far superior pass completion rate to that of Heskey.