Paul Jewell backs former club to challenge Arsenal

Paul Jewell believes former club Wigan Athletic can spring another FA Cup upset at Wembley this weekend, when they face Arsenal in the Semi-Final on Saturday.

The former Bradford City, Derby County and Ipswich Town boss spent time with the Latics both as a player and manager, taking the club into the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2006.

Having seen FA Cup holders Wigan knock out three top flight clubs on their way to the Semi-Final, as well as surging up the Championship table since Uwe Rosler’s appointment in December, Jewell thinks there’s a good chance they can reach another Final.

And with the pressure now on Arsene Wenger’s Gunners to end their eight-year trophy drought with no honours since winning The Cup in 2005, it certainly promises to be an intriguing affair.

"Wigan will be full of confidence and even though Arsenal will be favourites, they can go there and play without any pressure," claimed Jewell, who took part in a coaching session with FA Cup sponsors BEKO at Abraham Guest Academy in Wigan this week.

"They are the one team in the country where there has been upset after upset, so you wouldn’t put it past them to do it again on Saturday.

"Arsenal can’t win the league and haven’t won a trophy for eight years and everyone talks about that so it’s definitely a bit of a millstone hanging around their neck.

"The pressure is all on Arsenal. I wouldn’t say Wigan have nothing to lose, because they do, but there’s so much focus on Arsenal because of the results they’ve had of late.

"They had a real pasting at Everton on Sunday, so maybe they will come out with a point to prove but I just think that the momentum at the minute is with Wigan.

"They will know that it’s going to be difficult, but people are saying that an FA Cup game is bigger for Arsenal than it is for Wigan, because they’re still chasing promotion to the Premier League and that puts the focus and pressure back on Arsenal."

It’s been a mixed 12 months for Wigan, after reaching The FA Cup Final for the first time in their history last May and defying the odds to beat Manchester City, they were brought quickly back to earth when they were relegated from the Premier League days later.

Former boss Roberto Martinez subsequently left to take over at Everton and was initially replaced by Owen Coyle, before Rosler arrived from Brentford and revived the campaign.

And Jewell still retains great affection for the club, where he spent four years as a young striker during the club's formative years in the Football League and then played a big role in their more recent history with his six years in charge.

Jewell with The FA Cup and pupils at Abraham Guest Academy in Wigan this week

"It’s wonderful," he admits.

"To see them win The FA Cup last year, what a performance that was from Wigan in The Final, I thought 1-0 flattered Manchester City because Wigan were brilliant on the day.

"They played great football, they took the game to City and I think with the way they’ve been playing recently and the way Arsenal have been playing, they can do the same on Saturday.

“They went to the Semi-Final last year against Millwall, and then The Final after that before they played in the Community Shield, so it’s [playing at Wembley] not a new thing for them at the minute.

"And then to reach the Semi-Finals this season by beating Manchester City again was brilliant.

"Now they need to go on and reach The Final again but I’m sure Uwe will have all guns blazing for Arsenal now.

"It’s almost like a second home so they will be treating it like a normal game, rather than an occasion."