Former Celts Shaun Maloney, Marco Fortune and Thomas Rogne are heading to Wembley tomorrow hoping to extend Arsenal’s eight year wait for a trophy.
The pressure will all be on Arsene Wenger as Wigan attempt to reach the FA Cup Final for the second year running with Maloney a key figure in last season’s run which concluded with a dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Within a week of that victory the club was relegated with Roberto Martinez quitting soon afterwards to move on to Everton. After a short spell under Owen Coyle the club has forced their way into play-off contention under Uwe Rossler who has been unable to call upon another former Celt, the injured Gary Caldwell.
Wigan go into the match on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Millwall but boosted by the return to fitness of Maloney who was making his first appearance since September.
All of the pressure is on Arsenal to end their trophy drought with Rossler determined to cash in on that factor.
“We are going there with no pressure on our shoulders,” the Wigan boss said. “We have a clear game plan. It is important we stay in the game, address the game very positively and try to attack them.
“We want to go further, we want to win the game – that means we have to score goals. Being defensive-minded will not help us over 90 minutes.
“It is important to stay in the game in the beginning and the longer the game goes on grab our chances. And we will get chances with the players we have.”
So far this season Rogne has started 14 matches and made two substitute appearances, Fortune has started 18 matches, appeared as a sub in a further 23 and scored 5 goals.
