Arsene Wenger wants his Arsenal side to follow up their immaculate Champions League triumph against AC Milan by revelling in the mud of Wigan.The Arsenal manager insists that champions must be able to deal with a variety of demands and the challenge of the cow patch which the JJB Stadium pitch resembles at times could not be a greater contrast from the beautiful football played by his side in the San Siro.

Wenger said: "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. You have to find a response to what you face.

"It will be a big test 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."

For Sunday's match Wenger will be without Theo Walcott - who damaged a thigh in a reserve game against Colorado Rapids yesterday - and Abou Diaby, who has a calf problem.

But he insists Walcott will make it as a major star with Arsenal and told his 18-year-old striker to ignore the advice of former Gunner David Bentley, who is now at Blackburn.

Bentley has told Walcott, who came on for the last 19 minutes of the win against AC Milan, that he might have to follow his example and quit the club to find regular football.

Wenger said: "Bentley is entitled to his opinion but it does not mean he is right.

"I don't know why one player should incite another player to leave a club. It is not his job.

"What is important is what the player really wants. When you are in one of the biggest clubs in the world you have to accept competition and if you accept it, it makes you better.

"Theo can establish himself here. He is 18 and at that age to play in one of the biggest clubs in the world in a regular position is very difficult.

"As a striker he has one big quality. When he comes on he makes a big impact. He's not there completely yet when he starts a game but that is transitional.

"Very soon he will have the same impact when he starts."

While league matters were again top of Wenger's agenda, however, he was also hoping Arsenal avoid an English team when the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals are made next Friday.

He added: "Every English team if they are really honest would prefer to play a foreign team.

"It becomes more of a domestic competition when you play a local team but if we have to overcome an English hurdle we will do that as well."

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