Latics boss wants to emulate Gunners

Roberto Martinez today revealed his plan to make Wigan the Arsenal of the north ahead of their Carling Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Latics manager Martinez will tomorrow aim to get the better of the man whose footballing philosophy he is trying to emulate: Arsene Wenger.

Martinez is an arch-disciple of Gunners boss Wenger’s entire approach to management, chiefly of the Frenchman’s record of bringing through young players during his 14 years at the helm.

“I think developing players is key for a football club and, as we all know, for the nation,” said Martinez.

“And I think it’s a clear model that has produced outstanding talent and is carrying on doing that.

“That’s been a great example throughout football and for many people to follow.

“To have the ideas very clear, to have those strong beliefs, they bring you success.

“It’s quite clear that it’s someone who started a model and football in general has benefited from that work.”

Martinez, who cited on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverly as the ideal example of the kind of player he is looking to groom, added: “We’re following that philosophy.

“We want to have young players with huge potential, players that haven’t reached probably the best moment of their careers, and that’s something for us to develop, to carry on working and make sure Wigan Athletic gets that sort of football and gets that talent.

“That’s our philosophy and that’s the way we’re going to work.”

Until this season, Martinez might have expected to see first hand the latest batch of Arsenal youngsters in tomorrow’s game.

But, with the Gunners having gone five years without a trophy, Wenger has taken the Carling Cup slightly more seriously this season.

And it could well be Wigan who rest many of their strongest players tomorrow night.

“We need to share to efforts between the squad,” said Martinez, making it clear Barclays Premier League survival was his priority after seeing Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham drag his side to within two points of the bottom club.

“It’s a competition that we’ve really enjoyed and we still are enjoying.

“I think it’s important that we use it to allow players that maybe haven’t had to opportunity this season, to show what they can do, to show that they are ready, to show that they want to take places that could be up for grabs and that’s how you develop that competition within the squad.”

Despite his plan to rotate, Martinez is not dismissing the importance of the League Cup, insisting a good performance tomorrow night would boost his side’s hopes of beating Stoke in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

“Individually and collectively, that can help us in the game at the weekend,” he said.

“That’s important: that the Carling Cup doesn’t become a negative demand.

“We need to make sure that it’s something that’s positive and it brings that extra competition in the squad and we can experiment with a few things.

“Certain players will have the opportunity to show that they are ready and they want to have a big hand in helping the team to win games in the Barclays Premier League.”

It is not just Wenger’s youth policy that Martinez is keen to emulate, with the Spaniard trying to keep Wigan in the Premier League playing an attractive brand of football.

He added of Arsenal: “They are a fascinating team to watch; they’re really entertaining.

“They just master what they’re good at; they’re fantastic at it.”