Arsenal v Wigan Athletic | Matches

Leeds V
Arsenal
19TH JAN 2011

Saturday 22nd January
Kick off: 15:00
Emirates Stadium

Arsenal
3 – 0
Wigan Athletic

Arsenal V
Ipswich Town
25TH JAN 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

Programmes & Features

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Arsenal World - Episode 24

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

90

REMINDER: Stay online for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and David Hillier will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
90

Van Persie will take the headlines for his hat-trick but this was a fine display all-round against a Wigan side who were second best from the first whistle. Indeed, keeper Al-Habsi deprived Arsenal of racking up a far more emphatic win
Full Time IT'S ALL OVER AT THE EMIRATES! ARSENAL 3 WIGAN 0
90

WALCOTT TRIES HIS LUCK... but that flies high and wide. Three minutes of stoppage time to play.
89

GOOD PLAY FROM DENILSON: He shepherds the ball out of play deep in Arsenal territory.
89

ARSENAL PUSHING FOR A FOURTH: Wilshere has moved forward into Cesc's position
87

Substitution SUB: Denilson replaces Fabregas for the last three minutes
86

Substitution SUB: Van Persie comes off to a standing ovation. On comes Chamakh
85

VAN PERSIE RIFLES IN HIS THIRD! A ball over the top found Walcott, he held off his marker and Robin arrived to slam a shot in off Al-Habsi
85

GOAL! - Robin van Persie 3 : 0 THERE'S THE HAT-TRICK! ARSENAL 3 WIGAN 0
85

SONG SHOOTS JUST WIDE! He takes a touch on the edge of the box and lets fly. Al-Habsi was scrambling but had it covered
84

FANS ARE LEAVING ALREADY: They think the job is done. They are probably right but it's a shame they don't stay to applaud the team
83

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and David Hillier will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
83

WIGAN MAKING NO IMPRESSION: Rodallega has been almost anonymous and with 10 men it is so tough for them
82

ATTENDANCE: 59,552. Thought there were quite a few empty seats.
81

SAGNA GETS TO THE BYLINE: He cuts it back but Wigan clear with Song lurking
80

TEN MINUTES TO GO... and the game has gone very quiet. That sub has changed the tempo
79

OOOH, DI SANTO JUST MISSES THAT: The Wigan striker stuck out a leg and almost diverted a through ball past Szczesny. That would have set up a nervous finale
79

ARSHAVIN TRIES TO PLAY IN VAN PERSIE... but they aren't quite on the same wavelength.
78

Substitution SUB FOR WIGAN: Boyce replaces N'Zogbia
76

TACTICS: As expected that's a like-for-like replacement. Arshavin trots over to the left flank to take up Nasri's position.
75

Substitution HERE'S THAT SUB... Nasri is replaced by Arshavin
75

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and David Hillier will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
74

VAN PERSIE CURLS ONE WIDE: In fact that clipped the post. Good effort from Robin after making space for the shot 20 yards out. No one has hit the woodwork more than him since August 2007
73

STILL NO SUBS: That's a bit strange. Wenger usually makes a few changes before the last 15 minutes, especially with a midweek game on the horizon
72

DI SANTO GETS ANOTHER HALF-CHANCE: The sub meets Figueroa's deep cross but Szczesny is not troubled by that one
71

VAN PERSIE MISSES! The Dutchman fires over the bar and squanders a wonderful chance for his hat-trick. Dear me.
70

CLEAR PENALTY: Fabregas went through and Gary Caldwell tripped him. Van Persie will take the spot kick...
70

Red Card PENALTY TO ARSENAL - AND A RED CARD!
68

GREAT IMPROVISATION FROM CESC! He juggles the ball on the edge of the box and, as he tumbles, flicks it over his head and just wide
67

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Hendry Thomas goes in the book for a studs-up challenge.
66

WILSHERE TRIES HIS LUCK: But Jack can't connect properly and the ball rolls well wide.
65

DI SANTO HEADS WIDE: And that is pretty much the first time Wigan have had a decent opening. Good cross in and Di Santo climbs high to head past the far post
64

WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE? My money's on Arshavin for Nasri. Have your say at www.arsenal.com/studio
63

SUBS ARE WARMING UP: Denilson, Chamakh and Arshavin are all stretching down in front of me.
62

INTRICATE PLAY... Nasri, Fabregas and Song all involved on the edge of the box but Wigan get a foot in.
62

WELL DONE CLICHY! He slides in to stop N'Zogbia. Good defending.
61

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and David Hillier will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
60

THE HOME FANS ARE HAPPY NOW: A second goal always settles them down and it's very hard to see a way back for Wigan now
59

BRILLIANT ASSIST, BRILLIANT FINISH: Fabregas' crossfield pass picked out the Dutchman and he fires past Al-Habsi with a first-time shot.
59

GOAL! - Robin van Persie 2 : 0 GOAL! ARSENAL 2 WIGAN 0 - VAN PERSIE DOES IT AGAIN!
58

THOSE INJURIES SEEM OK NOW: Even Djourou has stopped holding his shoulder. A second goal might tempt Wenger to bring the most vulnerable off for a break
57

WALCOTT GOES FOR GOAL... but that goes behind for a goal kick. Theo went past Al-Habsi but the angle was very acute and he screwed his shot wide
56

LOVELY TURN FROM NASRI: He leaves a defender for dead on the left touchline. Whatever the problem is, he seems to be running it off
55

WENGER IN HIS TECHNICAL AREA: He is talking to Nasri. I'd love to hear what they're saying. For now Samir is OK to carry on
54

NASRI AND WALCOTT STRUGGING: Looks like they have both picked up knocks. Djourou is also holding his shoulder. Worrying times
53

CLICHY RACES DOWN THE LEFT... and finds Wilshere. He picks out Nasri and his shot is deflected wide for a corner
52

SLOW START BY ARSENAL: They haven't really got going in the second half and Wigan are enjoying plenty of possession. They aren't threatening Szczesny's goal though
50

DAVID HILLIER: 'All the while Arsenal give ground to Wigan they will give them confidence' Have your say at www.arsenal.com/studio
49

TACTICS: A couple of changes for Wigan and it looks like Hendry Thomas has been stationed in front of the back four to fill the space Nasri and Fabregas love to occupy
47

WALCOTT BURSTS FORWARD... but he is on the stretch as he tries to cross and Al-Habsi claims easily
46

Substitution SUB FOR WIGAN: Di Santo for Diame
46

Substitution SUB FOR WIGAN: McArthur replaces Stam
46

WE'RE BACK UNDERWAY: And the visitors are straight onto the attack.
45

The players are back out but Wigan were much later than Arsenal. No doubt they have Martinez's words ringing in their ears
45

I'm off for a cuppa and maybe even some fish and chips. See you back here for the second half. Don't miss our special video feature on Arsenal TV Online - coming up right now.
45

That's your lot for now. Arsenal are one up but it could be so much more. Ali Al-Habsi has kept Wigan in contention but he could do nothing to stop Van Persie's opener
Half Time HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1 WIGAN 0
45

INTO STOPPAGE TIME: And we'll have one extra minute. Free-kick to Arsenal but that comes to nothing
44

WELL DONE DJOUROU: He is so cultured. That's a lovely cushioned header to Wilshere.
43

ARSENAL STILL DOMINATING: Lots of possession but no more chances. Wigan will be delighted to get to half-time just the one down
41

AS LONG AS IT STAYS 1-0... Wigan always have a chance. Come on Arsenal, put this one to bed
40

WIGAN CUT APART YET AGAIN: Now Song goes on a charge, exchanges passes with Cesc and finds Nasri but his low cross is cut out. And here's Nasri again... and another save! This really could be anything
39

NOW HE STOPS FABREGAS! Another wonderful save, Al-Habsi is having a blinder. That was a tough one, plunging down to his right
38

NASRI SHOOTS, AL-HABSI SAVES! Samir finds space for a left-foot shot and the keeper flies to his right and tips over. It might have been hitting the bar
37

SZCZESNY GETS A TOUCH: He is almost redundant, the Polish keeper. This could be the easiest clean sheet he'll ever keep.
35

DAVID HILLIER: 'He's a man on fire, he should have just stuck it in the goal'. Have your say at www.arsenal.com/studio
34

WALCOTT SHOULD HAVE SCORED... he races through on goal and tries to find Fabregas with just the keeper to beat. Cesc is challenged, Walcott has another go and then Van Persie shoots over. Why didn't he just go for goal? Dear oh dear.
32

AL-HABSI KEEPING WIGAN IN THIS: He has made some top-class saves. Surely Arsenal will add to their lead? We don't want any second-half anxiety do well folks?
31

FABREGAS! Great effort at the end of a great move! Wilshere found Sagna, he clipped in a cross that Nasri touched to Cesc and he volleyed at Al-Habsi. Arsenal keep the ball and Cesc wins a corner... lovely stuff
30

GREAT CHALLENGE CESC: He slides in to win the ball and turn defence into attack. Arsenal well in control here
28

FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL: Hang on, it's not given. Cesc is brought down for the umpteenth time. Instead the throw is taken quickly and the home side keep the ball well. It's back with Djourou though...
27

YOU CAN SEE WALCOTT GETTING IN HERE: Cesc tries to pick him out with one pass. That is cleared but gaps are already appearing.
25

CESC HEADS OVER THE BAR... but the flag was already up. Wigan look very square at the back. They lost Alcaraz to an injury in training yesterday and it shows
24

STEWARDS IN THE WIGAN END: A few fans are causing trouble by the look of it. Nothing major though - there aren't really enough of them to cause that much trouble
23

DAN ROEBUCK: 'Wigan have to come out now. They have not had a meaningful attack.' Have your say at www.arsenal.com/studio
22

ROBIN OPENS THE SCORING: He just stayed onside to collect Song's pass and slammed the ball past Al-Habsi at his near post. And that is a fully-deserved lead
21

GOAL! - Robin van Persie 1 : 0 BUT NOT ANY MORE! ARSENAL 1 WIGAN 0! VAN PERSIE SCORES!
20

ALL GONE A BIT QUIET: Arsenal are being contained after that great spell of pressure. Patience will be a virtue today though. Still quiet off the pitch too...
19

WIGAN COME FORWARD... but that ambitious pass towards Stam flies over his head and out of play
18

WALCOTT TAKES IT... and his low fizzing effort is easily gathered by Al-Habsi
17

CESC IS FOULED: Arsenal get a free-kick right on the corner of the box
17

WALCOTT LOOKING GOOD: Excellent decision-making from Theo so far. As the boss says, he is more efficient now and maturing all the time
16

WONDERFUL BLOCK TO DENY CESC! Walcott races down the right, cuts it back for Fabregas and Caldwell throws himself at the ball to deflect it behind for a corner
15

FABREGAS GOES DOWN: But the ref waves play on. That looked a certain free-kick.
13

DAVID HILLIER: 'I think Figueroa was looking for that.' Have your say at www.arsenal.com/studio
12

NASRI PULLING THE STRINGS... Samir has picked up where he left off against Leeds. Meanwhile Walcott is penalised for a foul and Wigan get a breather
11

NASRI SHOOTS... and that goes straight into the wall. Arsenal are swarming all over Wigan here
10

FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL... but the home fans (and David Hillier) were screaming for a penalty. The monitor in front of me shows that the ref was right
9

WALCOTT SET IT UP... good ball across from Theo, similar to the first goal at West Ham last weekend, Van Persie struck the ball goalwards but Al Habsi showed great reflexes
9

WHAT A SAVE! Oh my word, Al Habsi somehow keeps out Van Persie's shot!
8

WALCOTT GOES ON A RUN: Theo sprints from the right flank towards the box but his pass goes straight to a defender
7

MAN UNITED LEAD: Berbatov has scored against Birmingham already. So the pressure increases on Arsenal to get three points
7

N'ZOGBIA LOOKS DANGEROUS: He was sent off at the DW Stadium last month of course for that headbutt on Wilshere. Before that misdemeanour he was Wigan's best player
5

THAT'S WOKEN THE FANS UP: 'We love you Arsenal, we do' gets an airing. When Nasri gets on the ball the expectation level rises and he really tested Wigan then
4

NASRI SHOOTS! And Al Habsi gets down well to save. Arsenal win a corner. Good spell of pressure but the corner is cleared away
3

QUIET START: The ground is certainly not full and the away end is very sparsely populated
2

HANDBALL! And it's given but sadly that decision goes against Walcott as he tries to latch onto Cesc's pass inside the box
1

TACTICS: It's a familiar Arsenal set-up with Wilshere and Song in front of the back four and Nasri on the left.
1

BRING ME SUNSHINE: As the game kicks off the sun breaks through the north London gloom. And it's gone again!
Kick Off AND THEY'RE OFF! Wigan get us underway at the Emirates. Come on you mighty reds!
David Beckham's in the crowd. 'You only came to see the Arsenal!'. Wigan go into a pre-match huddle and we are just seconds away now...
Ah, that famous 'official handshake music'. The Arsenal players greet their Wigan counterparts and break off for some final stretches. Gunnersaurus and the mascot exchange passes before Cesc accompanies the young lad to the centre spot for the coin toss
Here they come...
The big screen is showing a montage of some memorable Arsenal moments. Life-affirming stuff for those already inside the ground. Thousands of others are rushing for their seats
Kick-off is just seven minutes away according to my watch. The players have finished limbering up, Samir Nasri has received his PFA Player of the Month award and we are almost ready for action
Up in the press box now and it's a pretty horrible day in north London: grey skies, intermittent rain and a biting wind. The perfect time for me to wheel out my two big January signings - Long Johns and Fingerless Gloves. I'm expecting big things from both of them (once they've adapted to English football of course).
As ever it will come down to whether Arsenal take their chances. They didn't against Man City and paid the price. A bit more fortune and composure in front of goal today should be enough to see off Wigan. There, I said it.
What do you think then folks? Is this going to be a breeze or one of those agonising tales of what might have been? Send your comments to our commentary team at www.arsenal.com/studio
Our MatchDay Show gets underway very soon right here on Arsenal TV Online. If you haven't, login now for the early thoughts of Dan Roebuck and David Hillier, highlights from the win at Leeds and the best of Wenger's pre-match press conference.
That's pretty much as expected. Indeed, Arsenal's starting XI would be many fans' first-choice line-up right now (with the addition of a fit Vermaelen, I suspect).
SUBS: Denilson, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner, Shea
TEAM NEWS: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Van Persie
I particularly like that last one. Maybe Wojciech will step up if we get a spot-kick today. He'll be playing again of course - Fabianski and Almunia are still injured.
All five penalties awarded to Arsenal in the league this season have been taken by a different player
There have been five goals scored in the 89th minute or later in the past four top-flight meetings between Arsenal and Wigan...
Since August 2007, no player has hit the woodwork as many times as Robin van Persie...
Wigan have failed to score on their last five visits to Arsenal...
While we wait for that, here's some juicy stats to bore your mates with...
I'm Chris Harris, your text commentator for the day, and I'll bring you all the team news as soon as the Arsenal manager announces it.
I met David Hillier way back in 1992 when I was 16. 'How's the knee, David?' was all I could muster. If you've got a better question - and I'm sure you have - send it via the website at www.arsenal.com/studio. David and Dan will be taking your e-mails during and after the game.
Our commentary box will be graced by a debutant as former Gunner David Hillier lines up alongside Dan Roebuck behind the mic. They will be on hand to bring you all the action from just before 3pm.
Our MatchDay Show gets underway at 2.30pm (UK time) with highlights of that impressive win at Leeds, the best of Wenger's pre-match press conference and much more besides.
Everyone here? Let's get started then. Wigan are in town, three more Premier League points are up for grabs and you can follow all the action on Arsenal TV Online.