Report: Wigan 1-4 Arsenal
By Randy Osae
A terrific second-half revival saw Arsenal rob Wigan to stroll to a 4-1 victory which all but affirmed their place in the top four.
Steve Bruce’s side nearly pushed Wenger’s men to the limit, but yet again, the Gunners prevailed with class and character in an away league encounter. Arsenal had been digging deep today, but made it all look rampant and ridiculously emphatic on the scoreboard.
They do play like champions these days.
Starting line-up (not necessarily exact formation)
The Gunners’ physicality was expected to be examined today, and they failed the grade after 17 minutes – courtesy of a Wigan corner. With the swung delivery not completely cleared by Sagna’s header, Mido punished with a volley at a wobbling Fabianski who turned it into the net.
Following yet another early setback, Bendtner then took task on his shoulders to fire a faint header and then a taming low shot well wide.
But Arsenal’s misery was still mounting as Johan Djourou was stretched off the field with a knee injury on 35 minutes. The visitors were looking naive and teenager Kieran Gibbs was most culpable when he tangled down Valencia after the Ecuadorian attempted to race free with Arsenal’s back line stranded.
Indeed, Gibbs could only thank boons of his first ever Premier League start after referee Alan Wiley mercifully booked him with the home side arguing it was a red-card offense. Watson then curled the resulting free-kick onto the post with Fabianski looking as clueless as his stuttering teammates.
For the second game in a week, Arsenal were in need of another second-half resurgence.
Walcott finally let them out of jail after slick footwork between him and Arshavin inside the box handed the English forward some space to side-foot home his first goal since October.
The 20-year-old had done his job and so made way for Adebayor on 68 minutes with Arsenal inquiring a winner now.
Three minutes after that, Andrey Arshavin let through Fabregas who was penetrating into Wigan’s territory. The Spaniard sent in a low drive across goal and Silvestre needed a mere touch to guide it past Chris Kirkland.
Arshavin then curled a low effort onto the foot of the post only for Van Persie’s follow-up to be disallowed for offside. The Russian had been a focal part of Arsenal’s advances and lashed home a deserved goal after a late Arsenal counter-attack was dully broken up by Koumas.
There was still time for Song to complete the flattering riot by dancing through Wigan’s defense and firing home in injury time.
Another hint that Arsenal are well on-song.
After a very nervous 1st half, the team played better in the 2nd and ends very strongly towards the end. Good result.
After a very nervous 1st half, the team played better in the 2nd and ends very strongly towards the end. Good result.
peanuthead was the savior, but he played horribly too many mistakes, Arshavin, and song just cleaned it up! Good g ame arsenal.
peanuthead was the savior, but he played horribly too many mistakes, Arshavin, and song just cleaned it up! Good g ame arsenal.
Silvestre after a long lay off looks rusty but still managed to score and settle the Arsenal team down.
Silvestre after a long lay off looks rusty but still managed to score and settle the Arsenal team down.
Yes!! Arsenal 9 points ahead of Aston Villa.
Yes!! Arsenal 9 points ahead of Aston Villa.
Damn Kidz…chill…LOL
Damn Kidz…chill…LOL
MOTM Alexander Song, he was everywhere especially in the second half, great on and off the ball. Just Amazing today.
MOTM Alexander Song, he was everywhere especially in the second half, great on and off the ball. Just Amazing today.
Isn’t he allowed to celebrate our win? :S
Isn’t he allowed to celebrate our win? :S
Of course…Kidz is one passionate Gooner…I just don’t want to be hitting on Villa now…it’s still jinxing to me…LOL
Of course…Kidz is one passionate Gooner…I just don’t want to be hitting on Villa now…it’s still jinxing to me…LOL
Nervous start for Fabianski…Good game, excellent 2nd half. Gibbs was a bit hesitant, but good display away from home. Song is playing better and better game after game. I see big competition in the central Mid. Interesting to see how Wenger will pick the team when everybody will be fit.
Nervous start for Fabianski…Good game, excellent 2nd half. Gibbs was a bit hesitant, but good display away from home. Song is playing better and better game after game. I see big competition in the central Mid. Interesting to see how Wenger will pick the team when everybody will be fit.
shame about the lousy streaming……..missed everything
shame about the lousy streaming……..missed everything
Song’s goal was a beauty.
Song’s goal was a beauty.
Bendtner is the worst Arsenal player in the entire team. Get rid.
Bendtner is the worst Arsenal player in the entire team. Get rid.
Adebayor changed the game. Wigan couldn’t handle his power.
A good result but that defensive performance has me worried for Wednesday. Silvestre and Gibbs were poor and Fabianski was unconvincing.
Adebayor changed the game. Wigan couldn’t handle his power.
A good result but that defensive performance has me worried for Wednesday. Silvestre and Gibbs were poor and Fabianski was unconvincing.
In Arsene and his young players I trust…Proud to say I never doubted Arsene (not even once) even when the results were not great
In Arsene and his young players I trust…Proud to say I never doubted Arsene (not even once) even when the results were not great
Looks like our centreback position is being stretch to the limit due to injuries to Gallas and DJ.
Looks like our centreback position is being stretch to the limit due to injuries to Gallas and DJ.
Wow….u’re good man!!…so fast after game this is up….AWESOME Arsenal Fan..!!!…Go Arsenal!!!
Wow….u’re good man!!…so fast after game this is up….AWESOME Arsenal Fan..!!!…Go Arsenal!!!
Dj got injured???????
Missed the game, to hungover to get out of bed.
What did I miss?
Starting lineup?
Dj got injured???????
Missed the game, to hungover to get out of bed.
What did I miss?
Starting lineup?
Who to partner Toure at the heart of defense? Silvestre is a natural choice. How about Song?
Who to partner Toure at the heart of defense? Silvestre is a natural choice. How about Song?
DJ injured his knee and it looks bad.
DJ injured his knee and it looks bad.
When DJ went down I though that we could put Song at center defense and bring Nasri on, but the fact that wenger brought Silvestre on to me proves how far Song has come and how pivotal he is to our midfield now. He had a great game. I think that if we move him back to CD then our midfield will suffer.
Hopefully, our midfield can sure up a bit for Wednesday because I am sure that Villareal will come out to play.
I didn’t even realize RVP was fit so that was a pleasant surprise.
Gibbs played relatively well. It seemed that Wigan seemed to be concentrating their attack down the right flank so he stayed busy. Hopefully, this game served well to build him up.
When DJ went down I though that we could put Song at center defense and bring Nasri on, but the fact that wenger brought Silvestre on to me proves how far Song has come and how pivotal he is to our midfield now. He had a great game. I think that if we move him back to CD then our midfield will suffer.
Hopefully, our midfield can sure up a bit for Wednesday because I am sure that Villareal will come out to play.
I didn’t even realize RVP was fit so that was a pleasant surprise.
Gibbs played relatively well. It seemed that Wigan seemed to be concentrating their attack down the right flank so he stayed busy. Hopefully, this game served well to build him up.
Song is coming around…did Denilson play?
Song is coming around…did Denilson play?
wats up with us losing all our centre backs how long will dj be out this was a gd game 4 us in the 2nd half like against villareal we played gud in the secound half 4 goals in 40 mins
gunnerz 4 life
wats up with us losing all our centre backs how long will dj be out this was a gd game 4 us in the 2nd half like against villareal we played gud in the secound half 4 goals in 40 mins
gunnerz 4 life
some of your commenters are quite strange randy – arsenekidz doesnt make sense a lot lol.
some of your commenters are quite strange randy – arsenekidz doesnt make sense a lot lol.
Adebayor was scaring the defenders once he came on. Also i would never had expected silvestre would score the goal to take us to the lead.
Adebayor was scaring the defenders once he came on. Also i would never had expected silvestre would score the goal to take us to the lead.
our back 4 is going to suck against virreal we should go with song and toure in cb not siverte he is crap and our golie has been nervous today to we dont need this right now
our back 4 is going to suck against virreal we should go with song and toure in cb not siverte he is crap and our golie has been nervous today to we dont need this right now
I dont think anyone should be delusioned into thinking that we played well. Good win yes, but the first 60 minutes were as poor as we’ve played all season.
Having said that, people always complain about Arsenal not winning ugly, and although we scored 4 goals, the first haf was UGLY.
I dont think anyone should be delusioned into thinking that we played well. Good win yes, but the first 60 minutes were as poor as we’ve played all season.
Having said that, people always complain about Arsenal not winning ugly, and although we scored 4 goals, the first haf was UGLY.
its a good result but nothing to be ecstatic about…. We were very very shaky at the back and were lucky not to be punished….. gibbs looked out of sorts although he could be forgiven cuz it was his 1st full 90 mins in the league….I hope we do better against Villareal…..really need silvestre do pull out a performance like he did for Man Utd long time back….
its a good result but nothing to be ecstatic about…. We were very very shaky at the back and were lucky not to be punished….. gibbs looked out of sorts although he could be forgiven cuz it was his 1st full 90 mins in the league….I hope we do better against Villareal…..really need silvestre do pull out a performance like he did for Man Utd long time back….
its a good result but nothing to be ecstatic about…. We were very very shaky at the back and were lucky not to be punished….. gibbs looked out of sorts although he could be forgiven cuz it was his 1st full 90 mins in the league….I hope we do better against Villareal…..really need silvestre do pull out a performance like he did for Man Utd long time back….
P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!
its a good result but nothing to be ecstatic about…. We were very very shaky at the back and were lucky not to be punished….. gibbs looked out of sorts although he could be forgiven cuz it was his 1st full 90 mins in the league….I hope we do better against Villareal…..really need silvestre do pull out a performance like he did for Man Utd long time back….
P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!