Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of the Premier League!

Today we're at the DW Stadium for Wigan Athletic vs. Arsenal. It's a crucial fixture at both ends of the table, as the Latics battle the drop once again, while Arsenal strive for a a top-four finish.

Roberto Martinez's men are looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Norwich City, and hope to avoid what would be a fourth defeat in five games.

However, they haven't got the best of records at home against the Gunners, winning just one of their seven meetings. That was a 3-2 victory in April 2010, when Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and Charles N'Zogbia scored in the final 10 minutes to complete a comeback from two goals down.

Team news just in...

WIGAN XI: Al-Habsi, Kone, McCarthy, Jones, Di Santo, Maloney, McArthur, Boyce, Beausejour, Stam, Figueroa

ARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott

It's an unchanged lineup for Arsenal, which features Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott. Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez makes three changes from last weekend. Mauro Boselli and Jordi Gomez drop to the bench, with Franco di Santo, Shaun Maloney and David Jones coming in.

Wigan have won just one of their last seven games, but Arsenal have won just one of their last five Premier League away games.

Five young Gunners put pen to paper on new deals this week, so there may be a feel-good factor coursing through their dressing room today. However, Theo Walcott was not one of those signing on the dotted line, and his future still hangs in the balance...

It's also a big day for Ali Al-Habsi, who makes his 100th appearance for Wigan today.

Click here for full team news from the DW Stadium.

Three points this afternoon will see Arsenal into third place, but Spurs kick off against Stoke at 3pm, so it could be a short-lived stay.

Everton face West Ham United at Upton Park, and could also find themselves occupying a spot in the top four by the end of play today.

It's absolutely chucking it down in Wigan today, as I'm sure it is around the country. There have been a few postponements in the lower leagues already, but thankfully not at the DW Stadium. Here is The Mirror's chief sports writer Ollie Holt describing the scene on Twitter: "At DW Stadium. Surprised in some ways that the game is on. Impressive job by the groundstaff because rain here has been torrential. Some of access roads outside the stadium are under water. One of the roundabouts at retail park like a river crossing. Still raining hard."

More from Ollie Holt: "Arsenal have sold out their end at Wigan and club is giving each of their 4,600 fans here a £10 food and drink voucher to spend at Emirates."

T'is the season, after all...

The spotlight is bound to be on Theo Walcott today as speculation regarding his future continues to rumble on. The 23-year-old is believed to be stalling on a new contract in a scene reminiscent of Robin van Persie's (and others') recent exits. Walcott's contract expires at the end of this season, meaning that there's reason for haste in tying him to a new deal.

We're now just five minutes from kickoff at the DW Stadium.

The players are out on the pitch for the customary pre-match handshake. It's a cold and wet afternoon in Lancashire.

Wigan get this game underway...

It's a very greasy surface, which should suit Arsenal's passing style.

Sagna wins a corner for Arsenal.

Walcott drifts it into the near post but McCarthy heads clear.

From the way Wigan have set up, it looks like Roberto MArtinez is concerned about the threat of Santi Cazorla. James McCarthy is just sitting in the hole between defence and midfield, keeping a tight rein on the Spaniard.

Di Santo gets down the right and fires a ball into the area that Vermaelen hacks clear.

McArthur clips a ball through to Kone, who brings it down with one touch... but the linesman's flag is up.

Stam tries to whip a ball into the area but spoons it out of play.

SAVE! A lovely pass from Cazorla gave Arteta the chance to burst into Wigan's half. The Spaniard played the ball wide to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who shot at goal... but Al-Habsi got a strong hand behind it to push it round the post.

David Jones is sticking tight to Jack Wilshere. Martinez has certainly identified who he thinks the Gunners' dangermen are.

SHOT! Podolski has a dip but there's little power on it. Al-Habsi punches clear.

Arsenal just knocking on the door here. They look bright enough going forward, plenty of options.

McArthur just waited too long on the ball and Wilshere was after him like a shot. Tenacious play from the normally-mercurial midfielder.

Wigan can't seem to keep hold of the ball at the moment, but their closing down and tackling is ferocious. Has all the ingredients for a 'proper' match this.

Wilshere was afforded far too much space just inside Wigan's final third but a poor touch just takes the ball away from him as he advanced towards the penalty area.

Beausejour tries to get down the outside of Sagna but the French full-back marshals the ball off him excellently.

Gibbs drives into Wigan's area and lays the ball back for Walcott, but his shot is blocked. It was a half-chance, but there were a few players between him and the goal, giving him little to aim at.

McCarthy has been everywhere for Wigan so far.

CHANCE! Di Santo sets Kone racing clear but the Ivorian scuffs wide with his left foot when one on one with Szczesny! Terrible finish! A let off for the Gunners...

Beausejour brings down Oxlade-Chamberlain for a free kick to Arsenal. Arteta looks like he's going put this into the box...

He does, but it's headed out for a throw. Arsenal retain possession.

Di Santo is running up front.

McArthur sprays a wonderful ball out to Stam with the outside of his right foot, but the Dutch full-back can't beat Gibbs and only succeeds in firing his cross to Szczesny at the near post.

Stam has another chance to deliver a telling cross but, for the third time, he fails. Disappointing.

Jones is penalised for a foul on Arteta.

Walcott makes half a yard for himself inside the area but can't quite squeeze a shot off. Cazorla with the through ball.

It's certainly a clash of styles here at the DW Stadium. High work rate and commitment from Wigan, while Arsenal are trying to knock it around and probe for an opening. The Latics have the upper hand at the moment, though.

Maloney frees Beausejour down the left but the play is brought back for offside. Replays showed that it was marginal, but it was the right decision... just.

Jack Wilshere receives a yellow card for a heavy tackle on Maloney. The Scot jumped up straight away, indignant with the England international. Both players were fully committed to winning the ball. The crowd chanted "OFF! OFF! OFF!"... but the yellow card was the right call.

There is a bit of an edge to the game now. The crowd are shouting for everything.

Maloney returns the favour to Wilshere now with a little kick to his shins.

Half time: Wigan 0-0 Arsenal

Well it ends all square after 45 minutes at the DW Stadium. It's a finely poised contest between these two sides after an even first half. It's been a good old-fashioned game, with plenty of full-blooded challenges on a greasy surface. Three points are there for the taking for one of these teams....

You can read Sports Mole's Half-Time Report by clicking here.

Wigan should really be in front. Arouna Kone spurned the best chance of the game when he was sent racing clear by Di Santo. The Ivorian's finish left some to be desired, though, as he dragged his shot wide of Szezesny's goal.

Despite Arsenal's early dominance of possession, they only ended up with 51% by the end of the half. That's testament to Wigan's work rate this afternoon, as they have been dogged in midfield and not allowed the Gunners a moment's rest, although they are lacking somewhat of a creative spark.

Ronnie Stam has been disappointing for Wigan today. Three times he's had the opportunity to deliver the ball into the box, and failed miserably each time. They can ill afford to waste many more of those opportunities, should the situation present itself again.

Brilliant turn by Oxlade-Chamberlain outfoxes Beausejour but his cutback to Walcott lacked a bit of zip and Boyce was able to clear the ball.

Maloney bursts into the box but his cross is a poor one and goes out for a goal kick.

SAVE! Cazorla slips Oxlade-Chamberlain in once more and this time his cutback is a good one, but Al-Habsi denies Walcott from close range! Great stop!

Oxlade-Chamberlain wins a free kick for Arsenal. Arteta and Podolski conspire from around 35 yards out.

Podolski fires the ball into the wall. What a waste.

Stam tries a back heel but kicks the ball against his standing foot. He then brings down Cazorla as he attempts to wrestle the ball back. He's not having a good day.

Oxlade-Chamberlain sends a deep ball into the box but Podolski cannot get on the end of it.

Figueroa clears Oxlade-Chamberlain's near-post cross. The Gunners have started the half brightly once again.

Cazorla and Walcott link up beautifully, and the latter goes down under the challenge of Beausejour. There was slight contact, and it probably was a penalty.

Beausejour tries to redeem himself. He received the ball just inside the area, but his shot is woeful at best. It sails far wide of Szczesny's goal.

Franco di Santo isn't being allowed back onto the field for some reason and the crowd are incandescent with rage.

Finally, the ball goes out of play and the Argentine is allowed back on. Strange. Very strange.

That's whipped the crowd into action. They're urging their team forward. Gunners are having to spend a bit of time in their own half at the moment.

Sky Sports News pitch-side reporter says that Di Santo was ordered off the field to take out his earring and wasn't allowed back on until a break in play.

Mertesacker concedes a corner.

Figueroa has a pop from distance but it slides cleanly through to Szczesny.

SAVE! Kone latches onto a through ball from Beausejour, and he shows power in holding off two defenders before shooting at Szczesny, but the Pole saves well. Wigan are exerting a bit of pressure now...

Oxlade-Chamberlain wins a corner for Arsenal.

Walcott drifts it in, but Jones heads clear.

SHOT! Wigan go forward once more. Jones feeds Beausejour, who finds McArthur inside the area. He tees up Jones, who strikes it fiercely... but just wide.

Arsenal substitution: Aaron Ramsey replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Walcott clips a free kick over the bar. It never really troubled Al-Habsi.

Wigan substitution: Franco di Santo comes off to be replaced by Callum McManaman.

Another poor delivery by Ronnie Stam.

Arsenal substitution: Francis Coquelin comes on for Lukas Podolski.

10 minutes to go...

Sagna makes a lung-busting run forward but it's wasted as he brings down Figueroa. Wigan look to come forward...

Stam gets in behind the Arsenal defence and advances on goal. He tries to square it for Kone but Mertesacker is on hand to knock it behind for a corner.

Figueroa strikes at goal as the corner is half cleared, but blazes over the bar.

Ramsey concedes a corner.

McManaman thinks that he has won another corner, but the referee points for a goal kick.

McArthur had a decent shooting opportunity then but tries to play in Beausejour out wide. The move broke down.

Maloney, having just been booked for a push on Coquelin, now has a nip at the Frenchman's heels and is penalised once more. He'll have to be careful.

Wigan substitution: Jordi Gomez comes on for Shaun Maloney.

There's going to be a minimum of four minutes added on at the end of this game.

Gomez strikes at goal and there are appeals for handball, but nothing given!

Arsenal substitution: Santi Cazorla is withdrawn for Laurent Koscielny.

Wigan are looking for an opening on the edge of Arsenal's area. The ball eventually breaks for McArthur to strike, but it bobbles wide of Szczesny's goal.

Gomez just stumbles at a vital moment with the ball at his feet just outside Arsenal's area.

Full time: Wigan 0-1 Arsenal

It's a victory for Arsenal. They were much the better team in the second half, but Wigan will feel that a point was deserved. They just lacked a cutting edge in attack and failed to effectively test Wojciech Szeczesny.