March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

LONDON, March 7: With Manchester United otherwise engaged in pursuit of a trophy treble, Arsenal will relish the opportunity to steal a march over their rivals in the Premier League title race this weekend.

Victory over Wigan on Sunday would restore Arsene Wenger’s men’s four-point lead at the top of the table on a weekend on which United will be attempting to overcome Portsmouth and secure a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Having become the first English club to beat AC Milan in the San Siro in midweek, Arsenal will have a severe case of culture shock to overcome if they are to get the better of Steve Bruce’s relegation battlers on a surface at the JJB Stadium which is viewed as the worst in the top flight.

“To be champions in England you have to go from Milan to Wigan and win the game and I like that because it is a completely different type of game,” the Frenchman said. “You have to find a response to what you face.”

On that score, Wenger has faith in his young charges. “This team has not an artificial hunger,” he said. “They are really hungry for success. This season we are up for it and we will fight until the end. I’m completely confident. Any team will say they really want to win it but this team really mean it.

“It will be a big test on Sunday because they (Wigan) are playing not to go down. They are under pressure like we are at the top. They are under pressure not to go down and I have heard that the pitch is not the Emirates.”

In Saturday’s Cup clashes, Portsmouth will be hoping Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson decides to give Cristiano Ronaldo a rest as a reward for taking his goal haul for the season to 30 goals with a Champions League winner against Lyon on midweek.Ferguson has the luxury of being able to turn to the likes of Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes, both of whom spent most of Wednesday evening on the bench, and United’s form and depth of resources mean it would be a major surprise if Portsmouth managed to spring a surprise at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Championship side Barnsley are even bigger underdogs against Chelsea but manager Simon Davey is determined to tap into the well of self-belief generated by his side’s victory over Liverpool at Anfield in the last round, despite admitting to having felt “unnerved” by what he saw on a scouting mission to Stamford Bridge.

“They are on a different planet to what we are used to,” Davey admitted. “They have world class players in every position and it will be a very, very tough game for us. But no-one gave us a chance at Anfield and look whathappened.”

Saturday Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated)

FA Cup quarter-finals

Barnsley v Chelsea (1730 GMT), Manchester Utd v Portsmouth (1245 GMT)

Premier League

Blackburn v Fulham, Liverpool v Newcastle, Reading v Manchester City

Sunday

Bristol Rovers v West Brom (1800 GMT), Middlesbrough v Cardiff City (1400 GMT)

FA Cup quarter-finals

Premier League

Sunderland v Everton, Tottenham v West Ham, Wigan Athletic v Arsenal (1600 GMT).—AFP