Arsenal v Wigan Athletic | Matches

Arsenal V
Manchester United
8TH NOV 2008

Tuesday 11th November
Kick off: 19:45
Emirates Stadium

Arsenal
3 – 0
Wigan Athletic

Arsenal V
Aston Villa
15TH NOV 2008

HIGHLIGHTS

CLASSIC WATCH NOW
Arsenal 3-0 Wigan Athletic (November 11 , 2008)

Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.

Full Time ARSENAL 3-0 WIGAN: This was a strong Wigan side here tonight but Arsenal outclassed them for the majority. Sure the Lactics had their moments but this was all about the Gunners. Had it not been for Kirkland the scoreline could have been embarrassing
90

...it fails to beat the first man
90

The game is up but Wigan are pressing here. They force a corner...
88

WOW! You will do well to see a better save than the one Fabianski just made. In echoes of Lehmann's save from Raul in the Champions League match at Highbury a few years ago, the Pole raced back to tip an effort onto the bar. Outstanding
87

An amazing mazy dribble followed by a thunderous shot from De Ridder rattles the cross bar. That is the closest Wigan have come all evening
84

Substitution Vela leaves the field, the fans applaud him with a stadium wide Mexican wave, Rui Fonte replaces him
81

My word, the sparkling football is unrelenting. Merida shows just what promise he has with some cute skill and a lofted pass, but Kirkland is well placed to beat Vela to the ball
80

The frustration is palpable in the Wigan ranks. They have not played to their best
77

Substitution And at the same time Amaury Bischoff comes on for Wilshere to make his debut
77

Substitution Simpson leaves the field to a standing ovation and is replaced by Henri Lansbury
74

Wigan look well beaten now. Arsenal are oozing confidence on the ball
71

GOAL! - Carlos Vela 3 : 0 ARSENAL 3-0 WIGAN: If they just had one foot in the Quarter-Final, they now have two! Djourou came marauding out from the back and threaded the ball through to Vela. The Mexican had so much to do but quite brilliantly managed to dink the ball over 6ft 4inch Kirkland and into the back of the net. Stunning
69

Yellow Card Ramsey is the first man to be cautioned
68

Substitution Steve Bruce instantly makes a change with Cattermole replaced by Michael Brown
68

GOAL! - Jay Simpson 2 : 0 ARSENAL 2-0 WIGAN: The first goal was all about one pass, but this one was all about counter-attack. Vela profits from a glorious front to back pass, skins his man and bides his time before squaring to an unmarked Simpson. Two for the Englishman now
66

A hint of inexperience from Simpson as he opts to shoot with at least three team-mates better positioned. Needless to say his shot came to nothing
63

Now they find their groove! Slick interchange results in Gibbs firing an excellent shot goalwards. Kirkland saves well... again!
61

For all Wigan's pressure, Fabianski has remained largely untroubled in this second half
58

Substitution A change is on the horizon. Wigan's one man strike force hasn't really worked so Koumas makes way for Henri Camara
57

A thunderbolt from Merida causes panic for Kirkland but the keeper gets up quickly to recover
56

Top drawer tackle from Song prevents an almost certain one-on-one. Arsenal have lost their shape slightly
55

This a good spell of pressure from the visitors
53

... easily cleared
53

It is a much more even game now. Wigan force a corner...
51

No sooner do I say that do Arsenal carve out a good chance, but Simpson flashes a header over
50

Wigan have certainly upped the tempo in these early stages of this second half
48

For all their attacking prowess Arsenal have still been called into action on a few occasions at the back. Everytime, though, they have answered the questions
46

Kirkland has emerged for the second half by the way
Kick Off The Gunners get us underway with just 45 minutes separating them from a place in the League Cup Quarter-Final
Half Time HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 WIGAN: These youngsters continue to defy the odds and rightfully lead at the break thanks to Simspon's strike. If it hadn't been for Kirkland, the lead could have been many more
43

GOAL! - Jay Simpson 1 : 0 ARSENAL 1-0 WIGAN: A simply stunning pass from Jack Wilshere sends Simpson clear through on goal and the former Millwall-loanee makes no mistake with Kirkland to beat; through his legs too! The pass from Wilshere was, without doubt, one of the best you will see at any level of football
41

... Fabianski rises brilliantly to quell the danger
41

Randall penalised for what seemed a perfectly alright challenge. This could be dangerous though....
39

...Merida's set piece slips through untouched by anybody
39

Gibbs shows a brilliant turn of pace to escape the clutches of his marker but the Wigan captain recovers excellently to force a corner...
37

We certainly haven't been short on entertainment so far tonight
34

Bramble very lucky there as he completely misjudges a deep cross. Thankfully for the Wigan man, Djourou's first touch lets him down and the chance slips away
31

Kirkland is still showing signs of pain when he kicks but as yet no substitution has been made
28

... this time delivery is poor and Arsenal escape
28

...well cleared by Randall. So Wigan will have another go...
28

The visitors force a corner...
28

After what seemed like an age on the back foot Wigan are starting to assert themselves on the match as De Ridder and Zaki go close. Top goalkeeping on both occasions from Fabianski
26

A little warning shot from Koumas. The former West Brom man thankfully lost his composure at the last minute and sends his effort high over the bar
25

Vela unleashes a sublime curling effort from fully 30 yards, but guess what, Kirkland is equal to it again. I make that four top class saves
24

News is that Kirkland is struggling with what we believe to be a back injury. The Lactics' substitute goalkeeper Richard Kingson is warming up
22

... it's the Welshman with an outstanding effort. Kirkland, and not for the first time tonight, is equal to it. Fine save
22

A clumsy challenge on Vela from Bramble leaves Arsenal with a free-kick about 35 yards from goal. Merida and Ramsey stand over it...
20

Excellent block from Djourou. The Swiss star prevented Zaki's dangerous cross from even reaching the goal mouth
19

Up the other end and De Ridder draws a fine stop from Fabianski
17

Gibbs is next to ask questions of Kirkland. The Englishman surges down the left flank and shoots low and hard from the angle. Simspon was available on the cutback and it was perhaps the better option
16

Somehow Arsenal are not ahead!
15

In the space of two minutes Simspon has thundered the ball onto the cross bar, Vela has been thwarted by a sublime Kirkland plunge and Ramsey has had a shot charged down
13

... Fabianski came along way and got nowhere near it but luckily the ball bounces away to safety
12

A misunderstanding in the Arsenal midfield puts them on the back foot and Song is forced into giving away a corner...
10

Wigan are certainly not short on muscle. Wilshere is bundled to the ground but nothing doing from the referee
7

In a flash, though, Arsenal turn the ball from back to front. Slick passing almost freed up Simpson but Bramble came to the rescue
6

All the early running is being done by Wigan here but the Gunners are defending stoutly
3

A slightly nervy start from the hosts as Fabianski makes a mess of dealing with a long throw. Echoes of Stoke City there
Kick Off The visitors get us underway
As expected Arsene Wenger names a vastly different side to that who beat Manchester United. An array of youngsters are on show including hat-trick hero from the last round Carlos Vela, and Jack Wilshere, the Club's youngest ever League representative
Good evening everybody! After the weekend heroics in the Premier League, Arsenal turn their attention to the Carling Cup. Tonight's opponents Wigan have happy memories of facing the Gunners in this competition having knocked them out at the Semi-Final stage three years ago
Today's Match Day Show will start at 19:10, bringing you highlights from Saturday's win over Manchester United, the inside news from the JJB Stadium and the key moments from Arsene Wenger's pre-match press conference. Stay tuned for the post-match show straight after the final whistle, with Dan Roebuck and former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson.