LONDON - THE biggest threat to Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season might come not from their Premier League opponents, but from injuries to a number of their key players.

Arsene Wenger, revealed on Thursday that he is likely to be without six first-teamers for the match against Wigan at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

It is in midfield where Arsenal are depleted most. Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby and Gilberto Silva - who is suffering from fatigue - will all miss the visit of Wigan.

Midfield talisman Fabregas is suspended, but the break for international football has not been kind to Arsenal.

A frustrated Wenger said, 'Hleb came back with a hamstring injury, so once again we lose someone during the international period.'

'Flamini came back with a little thigh problem, too, which means he will be out for a maximum of one week.'

'Philippe Senderos is available, but Cesc Fabregas is suspended. Diaby has a back problem from the Champions League game against Slavia Prague and he will be out for three weeks.'

'Gilberto was due to return from the World Cup qualifiers with Brazil only on Friday. As for the rest of the squad, we will see.'

To make matters worse for Wenger, he is still without forward Robin van Persie.

The Holland international, one of the team's most potent attacking assets, has not played since the 3-2 win over Sunderland on Oct 7, and he remains on the sidelines.

Wenger also confirmed that Van Persie, who had hoped to be fit to face Wigan, would have to sit out the Champions League match in Sevilla next week.

Faced with such an alarming injury situation, then, it will come as considerable comfort to Wenger that his team take on a Wigan side who have lost their last seven Premier League matches.

As if that were not bad enough, the club from the north-west of England approach their match at Arsenal in a state of managerial turmoil.

Dave Whelan, the club owner, had hoped to present Steve Bruce as his new manager this week, following the decision to sack Chris Hutchings earlier in the month.

Whelan had agreed a reported three million pounds (S$9 million) compensation package with Bruce's club Birmingham, and the former Manchester United defender was expected to sign a four-year contract on Wednesday.

But Bruce has yet to sign, with the delay reportedly being caused by a dispute over 225,000 pounds that Birmingham say they are owed by Bruce over image rights.

Birmingham are now refusing to sanction Bruce's move, and are ready to take legal action to stop its completion.

The difficulties mean that caretaker manager Frank Barlow is once more likely to be in control for the trip to Arsenal. -- AFP