No memory games for Jewell

Wigan manager Paul Jewell is hoping Arsene Wenger does not have a long memory and an axe to grind.

It was in February 2000 a relegation-haunted Bradford side, with Jewell then in charge, produced arguably one of the shock results in the history of the Premiership.

The Bantams conjured up a remarkable 2-1 victory, at the end of which a mournful Wenger threw in the towel on his side’s hopes of catching Manchester United in the race for the title.

At that stage the Gunners were nine points adrift and having played a game more, yet as there were 14 matches remaining, Wenger was perhaps premature in his comments.

Yet the defeat must have had an effect as Arsenal eventually ended up 18 points behind United in second place come the end of the season.

“I think that result stopped them winning the league, with Arsene admitting afterwards they couldn’t catch Manchester United,” recalled Jewell.

“But that’s finished with. It was six years ago, and too much is made about managers in these situations.

“This is not about me and Arsene Wenger, it’s about Wigan and Arsenal players now, and come kick-off we will be well versed on what to expect.

“It’s up to the players to go and produce, and I know if they give their best, whatever the result, there won’t be any complaints from me.”

The paths of the two men cross again, only this time in far different circumstances as Wigan go into tomorrow’s meeting at the JJB Stadium on the back of a six-game winning run.

The Premiership debutants are six points behind champions and leaders Chelsea in second, and five clear of an Arsenal side languishing in fifth and without an away league victory this term.

Jewell was unaware of the latter statistic prior to being questioned, and replied: “I would love that to still be the case after tomorrow.”

But there is no doubt Jewell is full of admiration for Wenger and what he has achieved at Highbury in turning Arsenal into “one of the best teams in Europe.”

“He is an outstanding manager, someone who has everything – the respect of his players, experience and a great eye for talent,” added Jewell.

“He is one of the best managers the Premiership has ever seen. He’s been there, seen it, done it, coached in another country, won the league, achieved the double.

“It probably irks him he hasn’t done better in Europe, but I’m sure that won’t be long in getting remedied.

“I’ve only ever met him twice, but you can see from a distance just what he is about, and I’ve a lot of respect for him.

“In fairness to him he never ducks a question, but then he never seems to have a good view of any sending-off!”

Despite Wigan’s remarkable run of results, Jewell is finding it easy to keep the feet of his players on the ground, insisting there is no cockiness or arrogance beginning to rear its potentially ugly head.

With Spurs, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea up next after the Gunners, Jewell said: “There’s no doubt had we just five or six points going into this run of games, then our mindset would be different.

“When you are losing games people lose confidence quickly, but when you are winning games you can’t wait for the next one to come, and at the moment we’re experiencing the latter.

“But there’s a thin line between confidence and being cocky, and we certainly won’t be too cocky over these next few games because we are playing the best in Europe.

“If we go out there thinking we can turn up and stroll about, then we will be for it.”

Jewell has one injury doubt in defender Steve McMillan with a hamstring problem, while striker David Connolly will be on the bench at best after recovering from his own hamstring niggle.

The only player unavailable is midfielder Josip Skoko who has been given the weekend off after all the travelling involved in Australia’s World Cup qualifying games against Uruguay this week.