Points not position the focus for Martinez
Posted Saturday, December 03, 2011 by PA
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez insists he is not overly concerned by the team's current position in the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.
The Latics are 19th in the table, but for Martinez, the statistic that really matters at the moment is nine points, the amount they have accrued from their 13 league fixtures so far.
Rather than worrying about being mired in the drop zone, the Spaniard wants his side to concentrate simply on boosting that points tally, and the overall aim of bettering their final total from last season, 42.
That was enough to keep Wigan up in 2010-11, and regarding their present standing, Martinez said: "We are not so concerned about getting out of the bottom three or not.
"What we are concerned about is getting more points than we did last season and achieving our aim.
"In a way, you learn how to live in those bottom three positions as long as you see progress, and as long as you are developing a squad that is capable of getting the amount of points that we need at the end of the season.
"That mentality is well spread through the club, and we understand that every game is a unique opportunity to get points, whoever you are playing against."
Wigan's next opportunity comes when they host Arsenal, against whom they have a good recent home record, drawing 2-2 and winning 3-2 in their last two meetings at the DW Stadium.
They were, however, beaten 3-0 by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium in January thanks to a hat-trick from Robin van Persie, whose prolific goalscoring form has continued over the course of 2011.
The Dutchman poses a threat Martinez knows his side must get to grips with - although he is also wary of there being too much focus on one player, however in-form he may be.
"You look at Robin over the last 12 months and he has matured massively," Martinez said.
"I think he has gone into a different level. He really has grown and is now in the world-class bracket, and there are not many players you can say that about.
"He brings extra spice in any game that he plays, is a unique footballer and is someone we will have to be very careful about.
"But you have to be even more careful that you don't leave the others open and exposed.
"Gervinho, Theo Walcott, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey - and the list goes on."
Martinez - whose team have bounced back from an eight-game losing streak in the league to draw 3-3 with Blackburn and win 2-1 at Sunderland in their last two fixtures - has no fresh injury concerns..
Emmerson Boyce is back in training working on his fitness having not featured in the squad for the last two matches.
Fellow defender Antolin Alcaraz misses out again as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension for spitting at Wolves' Richard Stearman.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned his players not to assume victory will come easy.
"They are not [formalities]. The last couple of seasons, they have come back twice, where Wigan showed spirit and quality," said Wenger.
"Their pitch has always been quite difficult in winter, but let's hope this time it will be all right.
"They play good football so it's always a difficult game for us.
"This year we have no choice - we want to win to take the three points tomorrow.
"Wigan will be good opposition again. For us we just need to focus on our performance and try to win the game."
Arsenal will be without midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) for the trip.
Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) is also still out, along with defenders Carl Jenkinson (back) and Bacary Sagna (ankle).
Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Kieran Gibbs (hernia) are long-term absentees.
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