Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic, 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League

· English Premier League

Arsenal

21': Thomas Vermaelen

FT
1 - 2

Wigan Athletic

7': Franco Di Santo
8': Jordi Gómez

About

Arsenal are hosting Wigan Athletic at Emirates Stadium, London, England, starting on . The match is a part of the English Premier League.

Match Timeline

0': Join Mark Lomas from 19.45 BST for live text commentary of Arsenal v Wigan, as the Gunners look to close in on Champions League qualification and the Latics continue their fight for Premier League survival.
0': In the build up to this one, Wojciech Szczesny said he is hoping Arsenal's recent shift in momentum will lead to a Premier League title push next season.
0':
Arsenal beat Wigan 4-0 when the two sides met at the DW Stadium in December
0': The line-ups are in and not too much to report aside from Shaun Maloney's absence for Wigan - a big blow for the Latics after he scored the winner against Manchester United last week.
0': For the Gunners, there's just one change from the side that beat Wolves - Tomas Rosicky replacing Aaron Ramsey in midfield.
0': I'm always keen to hear your views on the game and you can Tweet me your thoughts and observations - @marklomasESPN the place to go.
0': No Wigan players on the list of nominees for the 2012 PFA Player of the Year award, but Robin van Persie made the shortlist (narrowly edging out Franco Di Santo, I hear). Read the full list of nominees here.
0': Twitter comment from @SickGuy15: Without a doubt the Gunners are going to have a very comfortable victory.
0': Stats: Arsenal have played Wigan at home on nine previous occasions. The Gunners have won all nine.
0': Felt so sorry for Wigan when they ended up losing at Chelsea after a really brave display and they were excellent again and fully deserved to beat Man Utd last Wendnesday. However, I can't see them winning today.
0': I am always prepared to eat my words, though, so maybe Victor Moses and Co. can provide a shock.
0': @salamisa on Twitter: I am wondering if I'm the only Gooner feeling uncomfortable about playing relegation-fighting Wigan, after United & Chelsea.
0': I think there's definitely a feeling of caution among all the Gunners fans I've been chatting to in the past couple of days. Never thought I would be saying this a couple of months ago, but Wigan are in impressive form!
0': The players are out on the pitch and we're almost ready to go at Emirates Stadium.
0': And we're off...
1': Rosicky with an excellent turn to escape the clutches of McCarthy, and Arsenal push on into the Wigan half.
2': Walcott with an early chance to run at Beausejour but he opts to come in field.
2': Vermaelen has a pop from about 25 yards out and it flies just wide of the right post.
3': Rosicky at the centre of things again and McCarthy brings him down on this occasion after a neat exchange with Van Persie.
3': Free-kick for the Gunners and Arteta preparing to let fly from 20 yards, just right of centre. Good angle.
4': Straight into the wall, disappointing effort.
4': Di Santo kicks up a fuss after Van Persie was a little late in the tackle on him. He refuses the Dutchman's handshake.
5': Beausejour gets in an important foot to prod the ball away from Walcott.
6': Superb save from Al-Habsi!
6': Okay. maybe not 'superb' as Benayoun headed it straight at him but decent nonetheless.
7': GOAL Di Santo scores.
7': ARSENAL 0-1 WIGAN. A swift break from the Latics and Di Santo nets his first goal in 18 games. Lifting the ball over the onrushing Szczesny and poking it home.
8': GOAL Wigan have scored again - Gomez this time.
8': ARSENAL 0-2 WIGAN Great work from Moses down the left and Gomez, at the second bite of the cherry after Szczesny saved his first effort.
9': Di Santo with a strike now, deflected out for a corner.
9': McCarthy fires a half-volley just over the bar.
9': Ramsey on for Arteta.
10': Wow, my fingertips are sore now - what an incredible start.
11': Wigan just cranked up the heat and Arsenal couldn't take it at all. I don't know if it's just a coincidence but Djourou's at the back for the Gunners. Hmmm.
12': Moses looking electric, troubling Sagna massively on the left wing.
13': Arsenal have pushed on a little bit since conceding that second. A sense of disbelief around the Emirates.
14': Cross whipped in from the left and Arsenal just trying to calm things down a bit with some possession football.
15': Great challenge from Boyce to deny Van Persie after he looked to have turned away.
15': Unbelievable save from Al Habsi. And I'm not overstating it this time.
16': Benayoun's header was going straight in the top corner and Al-Habsi sprang like an acrobat to tip it over the bar. World class stuff.
17': A seriously entertaining game so far - loving it despite the frenetic typing pace!
18': @h4lberstram on Twitter: Lactics have apparently not taken kindly to your pre-game RVP-DiSanto dig
18': Andre Santos the latest to be thwarted, Alcaraz with a Boris Becker-esque leap through the air to block the left-back's shot.
19': Couldn't agree more with the Di Santo comment - should have known a gentle bit of pre-match ribbing would result in the end of his lengthy goal drought!
19': Just to clarify, Arteta came off because he was injured - it wasn't a tactical switch.
20': Another Arsenal corner, they've been pouring forward for the past five minutes. Wigan holding firm at present though.
21': Initially headed clear, and a second time.
21': GOAL But not a third. Vermaelen scores.
21': Arsenal 1-2 Wigan. Rosicky with a pinpoint cross and Vermaelen with a typically dominant jump and fierce header past Al Habsi.
22': Game on.
22': Another smart stop from Al-Habsi. Van Persie with a stinging 25-yard drive and the Latics keeper turns it over.
23': Djourou almost continued the trend of players I mock scoring, firing a well-watched volley just wide of the post.
24': Just had another look at Wigan's second and there was a devastating bit of skill from Moses to create the chance. The boy's a bit special.
25': @ashboy007 on Twitter: tumultuous 20 mins, but three points for arsenal, surely?
26': Rosicky and Van Persie combine at pace but the Czech midfielder lifts his final effort over the bar from inside the penalty area.
26': For a moment there, Wigan's defence looked, well, a bit like Arsenal's at the start of the game.
27': Vermaelen and Rosicky really helping to drive the Gunners forward. Rosicky has been awesome the last few weeks, he finally appears to have rediscovered the sort of form that made him a real star for Dortmund.
28': Here he comes again and he tumbles under the challenge of McCarthy...
28': Just a goal kick, well-timed interception.
29': Stats: Arsenal have only been defeated twice at home in the Premier League this season and only Man City (unbeaten) have fewer defeats.
30': Still the red and white wave pours forward, I'm not sure how much more of this Wigan can take.
31': Boyce tackles Van Persie and it's an Arsenal corner as the npoise levels increase again.
32': Andre Santos gets it short and switches the ball to his right foot just inside the penalty area, before curling a shot over.
33': Sagna booked for taking out Moses.
34': It wasn't vicious, just clumsy. But Moses is down. Would it be cynical of me to suggest that Wigan may be time wasting in the 34th minute?
35':
Thomas Vermaelen heads Arsenal back into the game.
36': Another penetrating run from Rosicky ends in his cross landing on top of the goal. He's looking dangerous.
37': Jordi Gomez brought down as Wigan look to take a moment's breather again. Sloppy pass from Alcaraz gives possession back to the Gunners though.
38': Di Santo in acres down the right, where has Andre Santos gone? Di Santo with a decent cross, and Djourou gets an important touch to divert it clear of the six-yard box.
39': From hero to zero - Djourou poorly gives a free-kick away for handball just as the Gunners were looking to press again.
40': Wigan are getting booed as they are definitely taking their time over EVERY dead-ball situation.
41': Emmerson Boyce pops up in the Arsenal penalty area but it's his turn to be penalised for handball. I don't think there are more unlikely scorers than Boyce out on the pitch at the moment.
42': Van Persie dropping a bit deeper to search for the ball.
43': Rosicky wins the free-kick on the right, about 25-30 yards out. Van Persie lining it up.
44': Curled wide by the often-deadly Dutchman.
45': Another free-kick for Arsenal, as Van Persie launches it in from just outside the centre circle.
45': Benayoun flicks on (he's surely winning too many headers) but Al Habsi is out quickly to collect.
45': Three minutes of stoppage time.
45': Song in a dangerous position but he's thumped his pass beyond Walcott. Theo's a bit of a whippet but that was too much even for him.
45': Boyce wins the ball deep in Arsenal territory and Gomez advances before unleashing a shot over the crossbar with his left foot.
45': There goes the half-time whsitle...
45': HT: Arsenal 1-2 Wigan. Wow, what a half. Thrilling stuff at times, as the Latics came from nowhere to snatch two goals in a minute through Di Santo and Gomez, before Vermalen claimed one back. Second half should be an absolute cracker.
45': Remember, I want you to have your say too, and you can do that on Twitter - @marklomasESPN for your tweeting needs.
45': @gavtheonehughes on Twitter: Squeaky bum time if wigan win for aston villa & other teams around them
45': Absolutely, as things stand Wigan would be five - FIVE - points clear of the relegation zone. Villa would still be a point clear and I think they're probably going to be okay. But there will have been plenty of sighing around Bolton, Blackburn and QPR in the first half!
45': For those stats-lovers among you there's an interesting article here from Miguel Delaney about the changes in form of Premier League clubs from the first to second half of the season.
45': @Theo2point0 on Twitter: Victor Moses has been as good in the 2nd half of the season for Wigan as David Silva was in the 1st half for City.
45': Moses has been awesome, and another exciting showing tonight too. Can't see him staying if Wigan go down. Though can't see Wigan going down if they hold on tonight!
45': Need to mention Al Habsi too. Arguably Wigan's best player this season and he's made another couple of top-drawer saves tonight.
45': The players back out and we're almost ready for the second half. I for one can't wait.
45': And we're off for the second 45...
46': Wigan get us underway, and Figueora with a loose touch gives the early intiative to Arsenal.
46': Santos marauded forward and played a tantalising ball across ball that somehow eluded Van Persie.
47': Think there was a foot in from someone there - great ball in.
47': It's like half-time hasn't happened, Arsenal starting with the same fearsome pace with which they ended the first half.
48': Rosicky pulling the midfield strings and looks wide to Walcott, who is frustrated once again by Figueroa. Walcott hasn't had much joy at all.
49': Stats: Yossi Benayoun has scored against Wigan for three different clubs: West Ham, Liverpool and Chelsea.
49': A jinking run from the Israel midfielder looked to have opened up the Latics but he ran out of space in the end.
50': Free-kick for Arsenal, Gomez on Santos. Nowhere near the ball.
51': Santos up to whip in the free-kick but it's headed clear.
52': Di Santo gives away a soft free-kick on the right wing and Van Persie swings the delivery in.
52': Again Wigan hold their line and Beausejour bounds forward.
53': He releases Moses who shows pace and physical presence to outmuscle Sagna. Moses cuts in onto his right and forces Szczesny into a good save.
54': Stats: Wigan have won more Premier League away games (4) than home games (3) this season.
55': Vermaelen the highest jumper once again but this time his header is a little too high.
56': Straight down the other end and I'll give you one guess as to who is causing the Gunners trouble...
56': Moses again carves them open and his cross is blocked out for a corner.
57': The corner is cleared to safety, though there was a timid penalty claim in there for handball somewhere.
58': Van Persie fed by Rosicky and the Arsenal captain flahes a ball into the six-yard box, where Andre Santos knocks it wide.
58': Santos and Vermaelen the men in the box for the Gunners there, a little odd.
59': Moses sprints into the clear after a lucky defelction off Djourou...
59': But he's hit it straight at Szczesny. Moses could have taken an extra touch there, too.
60': @ikronkvist on Twitter: Let's go Wigan, for the love of Spurs!
61': Gervinho on for Benayoun
62': Sagna and Di Santo collide in the air, Sagna headed the back of his opponent's head. Looked a nasty one, but both players up on their feet.
62': Looks like the standard 'splosh vaseline all over over the injured party's head' approach is being used on Di Santo. Ah the advances in medicine.
63': Di Santo has put in a really good shift for Wigan, who now have a corner.
64': Beausejour's delivery met by Gomez, but his header is up and over.
65': @EasyGoer3 on Twitter: Is Walcott even on the pitch?
65': My thoughts exactly. The word anonymous comes, rather strongly, to mind. Walcott has been nothing short of useless.
66': Sagna bravely reaches a through-ball from Van Persie to cross with Figueroa throwing himself in.
67': Credit to Wigan, continuing to press - through Boyceinho this time.
68': Free-kick on the left-wing as Figueora is fouled by Song.
69': Lovely little turn from Van Persie, who releases Walcott. Finally Theo pops up and he's won a corner.
70': Wigan break at speed again - Moses advances and picks out Gomez, but his ambitious Van Basten-style attempt at the back post is a tad high.
71': McCarthy has been an absolute trojan in the middle for Wigan and he;s just won a free-kick after winning the ball well and then tiptoeing past Song.
72': Good news for Gunners fans - the Ox is ready to come on. Has to be Walcott coming off, surely.
73': And Sammon also readying himself. A veritable feast of animal-related substitutions.
74': Oxlade-Chamberlain on for Djourou.
74': Walcott moves up front and Gervinho heads to the right. Oxlade-Chamberlain to the left.
75': Sammon on for Di Santo.
76': Di Santo, I applaud you sir. An excellent display and he must be knackered with the amount of determination he's shown out on the Emirates pitch tonight.
77': Arsenal corner punched at wildly by Al Habsi, and the Gunners trying to pile on the pressure.
77': It certainly feels like a bit of desperation has begun to creep in. The home fans understandably sounding a bit tense at the moment.
78': Wigan repelling the Arsenal armada but it keeps on coming.
79': Nearly an embarrassing moment for Szczesny after a poor pass back from Song. It nearly got stuck under his feet with Sammon loitering close by.
80': Oxlade-Chamberlain trying to make something happen but Moses pickpockets him and turns on the burners. he plays in Sammon, who takes it into the corner.
80': That's right, with ten minutes left the ball is in the corner.
81': Not for long, and Arsenal are on the break. Santos and Walcott on the left wing.
82': Sagna crosses towards Van Persie, who tries an outrageous jumping back heel. It would have been a goal of the season contender, but RVP couldn't direct it goalwards.
82': @multieric008 on Twitter: I smell a goal
83': Walcott finally gets half a yard on Figueroa but the winger is forced off the ball. It looked like it could have been a free-kick for a push but Marriner was not interested.
84': Looking at that coming together again, I think Figueroa was a little lucky to get away with it.
85': Diame on for Gomez.
86': Have we just seen the match-winner leave the field? Four minutes, plus stoppage time to go for Arsenal to find an equaliser, they do love scoring late.
87': Wigan free-kick on the halfway line, and it's the Latics keeping the ball. The frustration building in Arsenal.
88': The Ox has struggled to find a pass so far, there's been quite a few loose ones from the youngster.
89': Sammon has done a good job of replicating Di Santo's fine work-rate. He's chasing across the Arsenal backline everytime they gett he ball.
90': Another cheap free-kick conceded to Wigan - Santos fouls Diame on this occasion.
90': Caldwell's long diagonal picks out Sammon, who plucks the ball out of the air in style.
91': But Arsenal can now launch another attack. Five added minutes to play.
91': Again Arsenal give away a cheap foul in the Wigan half.
92': Al Habsi finally booked for time wasting. He's been doing it since the 34th minute!
93': McArthur with a tidy turn to open up some midfield space but the ball is immediately back with those in red and white.
94': Martinez wildly gesticulating, it's nearly party time for him and Wigan.
94': Diame with a superb run and his left-foot shot forces Szczesny into a save low to his left.
95': One more lump into the box from Arsenal...
95': Wigan again get it clear.
95': It's all over...
95': Arsenal 1-2 Wigan: In one week, Wigan have dispelled losing records against Man Utd and Arsenal. Amazing stuff from the Latics, who must surely be on their way to Premier League survival after two incredible wins. Martinez and his players take the applause from the away fans. I think I can hear some cheers coming from White Hart Lane too!
95': I definitely didn't see that one coming, I'm not sure too many did to be honest. Keep an eye out for the match report and post-match reaction here on ESPNsoccernet and of course make sure you join us for the MASSIVE Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
95': For now, thanks for joining us. And if you want to keep the conversation going, give me a shout on Twitter - @marklomasESPN

Statistics

WGA		ARS
15	Fouls	16
3	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
3	Offsides	1
3	Corner Kicks	9
4	Saves	5
35.7	Possession	64.3
15	SHOTS	23
7	ON GOAL	5
0.5	On Target %	0.2
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
242	Accurate Passes	488
309	Passes	558
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.9
3	Accurate Crosses	10
8	Crosses	35
0.4	Cross %	0.3
34	Long Balls	33
19	Accurate Long Balls	27
0.6	Long Balls %	0.8
4	Blocked Shots	8
20	Effective Tackles	15
26	Tackles	17
0.8	Tackle %	0.9
0	Interceptions	0
18	Effective Clearances	7
37	Clearances	12

Game Information

Competition: English Premier League

Venue: Emirates Stadium
Location: London, England
Attendance: 60,060

Premier League Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Arsenal	21	+26	49
2	Manchester City	21	+26	43
3	Aston Villa	21	+9	43
4	Liverpool	21	+4	35

Full Table

Line-Ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)

No.	Name
13	Wojciech Szczesny (GK)
5	Thomas Vermaelen
20	Johan Djourou
11	André Santos
3	Bacary Sagna
8	Mikel Arteta
17	Alex Song
10	Robin van Persie
7	Tomas Rosicky
30	Yossi Benayoun
14	Theo Walcott

Arsenal Substitutes:

Sébastien Squillaci, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh, Aaron Ramsey, Gervinho, Kieran Gibbs, Lukasz Fabianski.

Wigan Athletic (5-4-1)

No.	Name
26	Ali Al-Habsi (GK)
5	Gary Caldwell
31	Maynor Figueroa
3	Antolin Alcaraz
22	Jean Beausejour
17	Emmerson Boyce
4	James McCarthy
16	James McArthur
11	Victor Moses
14	Jordi Gómez
9	Franco Di Santo

Wigan Athletic Substitutes:

Michael Pollitt, Mohamed Diamé, David Jones, Callum McManaman, Ronnie Stam, Conor Sammon, Ben Watson.

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