Latics boss Roberto Martinez takes his struggling Wigan side to Arsenal for one of the season’s biggest tests after an unsettling week of transfer rumours and injury setbacks.

Striker Mauro Boselli has already departed on-loan to Italian Serie A side Genoa, while star man Charles N’Zogbia is attracting widespread interest from the Latics’ EPL rivals, most notably Sunderland.

And hopes that Ireland midfielder James McCarthy would make his long-awaited return from injury at the Emirates were dashed this week, with Martinez forced to admit that the game “is probably looking a little bit too early for him.”

 

Wigan chief executive Jonathan Jackson had expressed his hopes for a “quiet” transfer window,” despite Wigan remaining in the bottom three.

Jackson told the Wigan Evening Post newspaper that the imminent returns from injury of McCarthy, England under-21 international Victor Moses and striker Franco Di Santo – who played in last weekend’s 1-1 home draw with Fulham – were “a huge boost for the club. It’s almost like having three new signings.”

And he added: “We’re certainly hoping it will be a quiet (transfer window) and of course we’re hoping to hold onto all our best players.”

The Latics slapped a £12m price tag on the French winger after Sunderland manager Steve Bruce expressed an interest in him.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said: “We don’t want to sell him…but if he is to go, it has to be for the right money.”

Meanwhile, Martinez is reportedly considering a £2m offer for Ipswich midfielder Grant Leadbitter.