Arsenal 1-2 Wigan - Premier League Match Report

Wigan Athletic battled to another unlikely victory as they held off an Arsenal onslaught to defeat the Gunners 2-1 at the Emirates thanks to goals from Franco Di Santo and Jordi Gomez. The victory follows the Latics' surprising 1-0 win over Manchester United last week and moves Roberto Martinez's men five points clear of the drop zone. After grabbing two quick-fire goals in the opening ten minutes to stun the home fans into silence, the visitors had to endure a torrid 70 minutes of Arsenal pressure following Thomas Vermaelen's goal that had looked to bring the hosts back into the game. The game began at a blistering pace with Vermaelen the first to try his luck after just two minutes with a decent drive from distance which drifted wide of the Wigan goal. Shortly afterwards a rare header from Yossi Benayoun was the first good chance of the game but his effort was pushed over the bar by Ali Al-Habsi. Then, completely against the run of play, Wigan broke at breakneck speed following a clearance from an Arsenal corner in a move that ended with Di Santo giving the visitors an unlikely lead. The Wigan players swarmed forward and when the former Chelsea man received the ball in the centre from Gomez he lifted the ball over Wojciech Szczesny before slotting it into an open goal. And the Emirates fell deadly silent just a minute later when Wigan grabbed a quick fire second through Gomez. With Arsenal still in shock the away side poured forward again and when the ball was played into the box, thanks to some good work from Victor Moses down the left, Gomez pounced just ahead of Szczesny to poke the ball home. Amidst the early chaos Mikel Arteta had to be replaced due to injury and made way for Aaron Ramsey after nine minutes. The Spaniard picked up a knock after a couple of minutes and was off the field for Wigan's second goal. Arsenal came into the game following Ramsey's introduction, and Benayoun was unlucky to see his looping header superbly tipped over the bar by Al-Habsi. Despite Arsenal's domination following the second goal they were unable to carve out any real openings. Then after 21 minutes Vermaelen stepped up with a typically emphatic headed goal to bring the hosts right back into the contest. A superb cross from Tomas Rosicky was met by the head of the towering Belgian who powered the ball past a helpless Al-Habsi. Robin Van Persie soon tested Al-Habsi with a powerful strike from 30 yards that must have stung the palms of the 'keeper who parried the ball over the bar. And Johan Djourou almost doubled his career total of goals shortly afterwards but his effort from a corner went just wide of the post. Arsenal almost levelled after 26 minutes when James McCarthy carelessly gave the ball away. Van Persie and Rosicky broke but an unselfish exchange between the pair ended with the Czech ballooning his final shot way over the bar. Following the Arsenal goal it was somewhat surprising they were unable to equalise before the break, with a tame Andre Santos shot and a Van Persie free-kick the last two half chances of the opening 45 minutes. Half-time Arsenal were straight onto the front foot at the start of the second half and Santos probably should have scored but the Brazilian wasted two attempts in quick succession. But Wigan showed they were still prepared to go in search of another goal as Moses got the better of Bacary Sagna on the left flank only to see his shot saved by Szczesny. And Santos again missed a great chance following an excellent cut back from Van Persie but his stabbed shot from six yards was wide of the goal and the full-back really should have done better. But it was Moses who missed the most guilt-edged chance of the half as he was through one on one with Szczesny following some calamitous defending. As the winger sprang clear of the Arsenal defence he decided to take his shot early only to place the ball into arms of the grateful Szczesny. Wigan soon showed their counter-attacking capabilities once again as they flocked towards the Arsenal goal but Gomez failed to make the most of Moses' cross to the back post and his volley went sailing way over the bar. Al-Habsi, who was excellent for much of the night, had a scare after 76 minutes when he attempted to punch the ball clear from a corner but got his judgement all wrong, only to be saved by his defenders who managed to get the ball clear. To Wigan's credit they kept pushing forward and refused to sit back and defend their lead, and as a result the game opened up at both ends with the two sides showing plenty of attacking intent without creating too many clear-cut chances. It was a frantic last five minutes as Arsenal flooded the Wigan half but created few openings much to the frustration of the arm flapping Arsene Wenger. It was a second successive scalp from Martinez's side in a week and a crucial three points in a relegation battle that surely has many twists and turns to come. As for Arsenal, their lead over fourth placed Tottenham is now just five points with their North London rivals having played a game less. Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Djourou (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 74), Santos, Rosicky, Arteta (Ramsey, 7), Walcott, Song, Benayoun (Gervinho, 60), Van Persie. Wigan (3-4-3): Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Boyce, Figueroa, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Moses, Gomez (Diame, 86), Di Santo (Sammon, 75)