A Lukas Podolski brace and goals from Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey earned the Gunners the win but Wenger said he felt for his Wigan counterpart Roberto Martinez, who watched his side relegated to the Championship - following their FA Cup triumph on Saturday - after eight seasons.

"It is sad that Wigan go down because they are a good team, they play good football," he said.

"It is an intelligent team with good players. If they stay together, they will certainly come up again."

The result saw Arsenal move into fourth place, one point ahead of Tottenham and two points behind third-placed Chelsea.

The race for third and fourth spots will go right down to the last weekend of games, with Arsenal journeying to Newcastle, Spurs hosting Sunderland, and Chelsea - who contest the Europa League final against Benfica on Wednesday - welcoming Everton to Stamford Bridge.

With no guarantee of fourth place, and third still up for grabs, Wenger said his men will need three points at St James' Park.

"I think we will need to win," he said.

"I am confident we will hold our nerve because we have experience.

"We have played for a long time under massive pressure and we always found the solutions to the problems we have faced, so I'm confident."

But Wenger could be without influential midfielder Mikel Arteta, who was forced off late with a calf problem.

"Arteta is not alright," Wenger said.

"Arteta pulled his calf, so that could be a problem for Sunday. We don't know, we have to wait 24 hours. He will be a massive doubt for Sunday."