Report: Wigan 1-0 Arsenal Carling Cup photos

Wenger was livid at Roberts' challenge on Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia midway through the second half which left the Spaniard with a bruised rib.

"I was not happy about it at all," Wenger said.

"He left his foot in. Anyone who has played football knows when they do not have the ball and he had no chance. He has to be bigger than that."

The incident provoked a furious response from Wenger who ranted at Wigan boss Paul Jewell on the touchline immediately afterwards.

Almunia was able to continue the match following treatment.

Jewell played down the challenge and highlighted Arsenal's own disciplinary problems.

"I told Arsene he should look after his own team and I will concentrate on mine," he said.

I told them these kind of opportunities may never come back again, so they should get out there and do it for their wives, girlfriends - or both for that matter Wigan boss Paul Jewell

"Arsenal are a great team and a fantastic club but they have had more red cards than anyone.

"When the lad got up he was fit enough to boot the free-kick 70 yards so he can't have been as badly injured as some people thought."

Jewell criticised his team's first-half display but said he was pleased with his side's attitude after the interval - when play was held up for 12 minutes following a floodlight failure.

"I was a bit angry at half-time because there was no tempo about our play," added Jewell.

"It seemed as though my players were appearing in semi-finals every week.

"I told them these kind of opportunities may never come back again, so they should get out there and do it for their wives, girlfriends - or both, for that matter. I just wanted to get some kind of response and thankfully we got it."

Wenger remained positive about Arsenal's chances of overturning the one-goal deficit in the second leg at Highbury on 24 January.

But the Frenchman admitted that he could ill-afford any further injuries in his squad - which will also be hit when Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue travel to the African Cup of Nations later in the month.

"I will have a look at my squad when the next game comes round but we know what our priorities are," he said.

"We have a chance to beat Wigan at home and we will try to do it but we cannot afford to lose one more player because we are so short at the moment."