PAUL JEWELL’S first involvement in a cup final with Wigan Athletic came as a player 21 years ago, when the club’s modest reward for winning the Freight Rover Trophy was a brand new white van. “I think we’ve still got it,” Jewell said yesterday, while struggling to contain his laughter. “I think they’re still getting it serviced and trotting it out from time to time. It’s a good little runner.”
Victory in the Carling Cup final carries with it a far grander prize, of course — a place in Europe — which Wigan will get a shot at should they overcome Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final at Highbury this evening.
It is an enormous ask, even with Arsenal in a state of flux and trailing 1-0 from the first leg at the JJB Stadium a fortnight ago courtesy of a goal by Paul Scharner, but Jewell’s team have made a refreshing habit of upsetting the odds this season, as sixth place in the Barclays Premiership testifies.
“I would be absolutely delighted (if we reached the final). I’ve never got this far as manager and the club has never been in the final of a major cup competition,” Jewell said. “It would be a great achievement and if we get through we’ll talk all day long about it, but until then our focus can’t wane.”
Given Wigan’s injury problems, Reto Ziegler, the 20-year-old Switzerland midfield player who joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season yesterday, will probably feature at some point, but the name on the lips of every Wigan supporter is Neil Mellor, who has experienced two semi-final wins in this competition with Liverpool.
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Barely 48 hours after joining Wigan on loan, the 23-year-old striker scored the winning goal against Middlesbrough in stoppage time on Saturday. Not that Arsène Wenger needs any introduction. It was against Arsenal in November 2004 that Mellor announced his arrival at Liverpool with a breathtaking last-minute winner at Anfield.
Injury has curtailed his progress since — the match against Middlesbrough was his first competitive start for more than 12 months after he underwent an operation in March last year to cure tendinitis in his knees — but just as his predatory instincts have never been in question, his thirst for success has not waned. “That goal (against Arsenal) is the highlight of my career so far,” Mellor said. “It was a long time ago now, though, so I’m keen to refresh my memory.”
To do so, Wigan must beat a full-strength Arsenal team, a reflection of this season’s discontent at Highbury. With his side out of the Barclays Premiership title race and facing difficult draws in the FA Cup and Champions League, Wenger has recalled several senior players as he attempts to take at least one trophy to their new stadium, with Thierry Henry making his first appearance of the season in the competition.
“In this competition I have always put out a side to win the game,” Wenger said, “but this time the adjustment needs to be strong. Therefore you will see a few experienced players. We have no new injuries but then nobody really comes back apart from Dennis Bergkamp, who will be involved in the squad, and Robin van Persie.”
Jens Lehmann is the only senior player to be rested as Manuel Almunia continues in goal, with Mart Poom on the bench a day after completing a permanent move from Sunderland. The Carling Cup is the only domestic trophy Arsenal have not won under Wenger, not counting the prestigious Freight Rover Trophy, that is.
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ARSENAL (probable; 4-4-2): M Almunia — K Gilbert, S Campbell, P Senderos, Lauren — F Ljungberg, Gilberto, C Fàbregas, J A Reyes — T Henry, R Van Persie.
WIGAN ATHLETIC (probable; 4-4-2): M Pollitt — P Chimbonda, P Scharner, S Henchoz, L Baines — D Thompson, J Bullard, G Kavanagh, G Teale — N Mellor, J Roberts.
Referee: P Dowd.
TELEVISION: Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45pm).
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NIGERIA TAKE LOW ROAD TO VICTORY
NIGERIA defeated Ghana, their arch rivals, 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Taye Taiwo in the opening match of group D of the African Cup of Nations in Port Said, Egypt, yesterday. The Marseilles defender scored the winner in the 84th minute when his low, 35-yard shot beat Sammy Adjei, the Ghana goalkeeper.
With Ghana depleted by injuries, Nigeria had the better chances with Taiwo, from a thunderous free kick in the 23rd minute, Ayila Yusuf and Wilson Oruma going close in the first half.
After the interval Joseph Yobo, the Everton defender, and Obafemi Martins came close to scoring before Taiwo struck at the death.