Wigan Athletic v Arsenal | Matches

Reading V
Arsenal
17TH DEC 2012

Saturday 22nd December
Kick off: 12:45
The DW Stadium

Wigan Athletic
0 – 1
Arsenal

Arsenal V
Newcastle United
29TH DEC 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH

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

90

REMINDER: Stay online for our post-match debate. Richard Fleming 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). And finally, Merry Christmas!
Full Time FULL TIME: Wigan 0-1 Arsenal
Top Comments:
- @ArsenalAdem on Twitter says:
  
  Happy with that. Didn't play brilliantly, but we got the 3 points, that's what matters. We ground it out.
90

WIDE: McCarthy pokes Beausejour's cross just wide
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Wigan have had this last 15 minutes -- it's all them. Since the goal Arsenal have't done anything
90

Substitution FINAL SUB: Laurent Koscielny is on for Cazorla
90

WAS THAT HNDBALL? Gomez fires a shot goalwards. It's blocked by Gibbs, but did it hit his arm? The referee says no
89

Substitution WIGAN SUB: Maloney is replaced by Jordi Gomez
89

WELL WIDE: McArthur heads tamely wide
88

NEARLY THERE: The Arsenal fans, who have again been outstanding, are willing their team on to victory
86

Yellow Card YELLOW: Maloney catches Coquelin and is carded
84

THE PRESSURE IS BUILDING: Wigan are seeing a lot more of the ball. Can Wenger's team stand firm?
Top Comments:
- Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Wigan are in the relegation zone, but they have played well. They are a good team
82

GREAT DEFENDING: Stam gets in down the right and Mertesacker does well to cut the cross out. Then Figueroa blazes over
Top Comments:
- @SanchezNI on Twitter says:
  
  Mertesacker again showing how under-rated he is - great last ditch tackling. Not sure why he gets slated, he's class.
79

Substitution HERE COMES COQUELIN: The midfielder replaces Podolski
Top Comments:
- @dahiruyd on Twitter says:
  
  Arsenal seem contend with the one goal lead. A dangerous move.
77

Substitution WIGAN SUBSTITUTION: Callum McManaman is on for Di Santo
76

JUST OVER: Walcott sends an effort over from outside the area
75

Substitution ARSENAL CHANGE: The impressive Oxlade-Chamberlain jobs off to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey
Top Comments:
- @GCD292 on Twitter says:
  
  By far the best game for the OX this season. Worked hard, played hard
73

INCHES AWAY: Jones fires in a shot from just outside the area that whistles wide of Szczesny's goal
Top Comments:
- @Weslisa2000 on Twitter says:
  
  Sagna is being torn apart by Kone.
73

GOOD PUNCH: Al Habsi fists away Gibbs' cross with Vermaelen lurking at the back post
70

SUPER SZCZESNY: The Arsenal No 1 does well to hold Figueroa's shot before saving well from Kone 30 seconds later
Top Comments:
- @at33h on Twitter says:
  
  Massive attack from Wigan, thank God we have Szczesny over there. All is (still) well.
69

SLOPPY: MCArthur's loose pass falls for Walcott, but Jones is on hand to nick the ball back
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  I think we have underestimated how bad the pitch has been during this game., Both sides are being affected
68

HAVE YOUR SAY: Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WAFCvAFC. We'll publish a selection of your comments right here
67

DI SANTO IS BACK: Moss allows him back onto the field and both teams are back to 11 men
Top Comments:
- @IRGrubsy on Twitter says:
  
  Jon Moss gave Di Santo two minutes for some foul. NHL may not happen this season, but hockey rules are in effect.
66

NEARLY: Walcott dummies Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross and the ball nearly falls for Wilshere
65

ANGRY LATICS: The home supporters are fuming as the referee orders Di Santo off the field, presumably to receive treatment
Top Comments:
- @esomedina on Twitter says:
  
  is Di Santo in the penalty box?
63

CREDIT TO WALCOTT: He did well to retrieve Gibbs' deep cross from the byline before eventually winning the penalty
61

WASTEFUL: McCarthy picks out Beausejour in acres of space down the left, but, yet again, the Chilean's cross is poor
60

ONE-NIL, TO THE ARSENAL: The traveling support are in fine voice. It was a good penalty under immense pressure
60

GOAL! - Mikel Arteta 0 : 1 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Arteta coolly sends Al Habsi the wrong way and the Gunners lead
59

PENALTY FOR ARSENAL! Walcott is felled in the box by Beausejour and the referee points to the spot
58

COMPOSED: Gibbs chests the ball back to Szczesny when under pressure from Di Santo
Top Comments:
- @Harish_Pancholi on Twitter says:
  
  Wigan looking like they're finally starting to break down. I fancy an Arsenal goal soon.
56

THEY CAN'T DEAL WITH HIM: Oxlade-Chamberlain wreaks more havoc on the right-hand side before his fizzing low cross is cut out by Figueroa
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Very bright start to teh half by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He's Arsenal's best player at the moment
54

POSITIVE START: Arsenal have looked lively at the start of the second period, with Oxlade-Chamberlain posing a real threat
51

FOUL: McArthur gives the ball away to Oxlade-Chamberlain and then fouls the winger 25 yards from goal
49

GREAT STOP: Oxlade-Chamberlain is having a great start to the second half. This time he does find Walcott, whose low shot looks destined for the net until Al Habsi pulls off a very good save
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Excellent ball in, but al-Habsi is an excellent shot stopper – one of the best in the league
48

PER'S AWARE: The German international does well to put Maloney under pressure after the midfielder had broken into the area
47

BRILLIANT PLAY: Oxlade-Chamberlain expertly goes by Beausejour, but his pull-back towards Walcott is just about cut out
46

AND WE'RE OFF: Arsenal get the second half underway. This is a big 45 minutes for Wenger's team - let's hope they can kick on and get the three points
Half Time HALF TIME: Wigan 0-0 Arsenal
Top Comments:
- David Hillier on Arsenal Player says:
  
  It's not looking too bad for Arsenal, but we have to step it up in the second half. I thought there would be goals, but with the way the game is panning out, Wigan is likely to have 10-men behind the ball
45

SUMMARY: Oxlade-Chamberlain has looked bright and required Al Habsi to save well, while at the other end, Kone spurned the best change of the half after going through on goal
Top Comments:
- @vishnuksxypants on Twitter says:
  
  Wilshere has been great, but the best player on the pitch for Arsenal is definitely Koné. Outstanding work.
45

STOPPAGE TIME: We'll have two minutes of it
44

FIERY: It's all getting a bit heated here on the stroke of the break
42

WILSHERE IN THE WARS: He comes off worst in an aerial collision with McCarthy but is fine to play on
42

DI SANTO HAS A GO: But his effort from 25 yards flies over
40

Yellow Card WILSHERE IN TROUBLE: He's booked for a foul on Maloney. It looks like he took the man and the ball. Referee Moss cautions the England international
Top Comments:
- @PeterCReid on Twitter says:
  
  That was a good old hard English tackle by Wilshire. Shame thats gone out of the game. Fair play to Maloney for getting on with it
39

FRUSTRATED HOSTS: Wigan have combined some incisive play with the inability to get the final ball right
36

POOR CROSS: Wigan's delivery into the box has really let them down so far. Beausejour, after Stam twice before, sends the ball into the stand
Top Comments:
- @RomeoBryan on Twitter says:
  
  Arsenal is not working hard and moving more right now. Worried. Wigan looks to score first than us.
34

NICE PLAY: Gibbs and Cazorla link up well before the Spaniard finds Walcott, whose shot is well blocked by Boyce
32

GET IN TOUCH: Our commentators Dan and Richard are sitting next to me and would love to read your thoughts. Let them know how you think the game is going at www.arsenal.com/studio
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Wigan are pressing so high up the pitch aren't they? They are trying to win the ball back as quickly as possible. They aren't sitting back
28

THE RIGHT STUFF: A lot of Arsenal's attacking forays have come through Sagna and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who have at times linked up well
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  I don't think it's man-to-man but McCarthy and McArthur are looking after Cazorla and WIlshere. They've done well because we haven't seen much of the Spaniard today and he's been the player of the season for Arsenal
25

CLATTERED: Oxlade-Chamberlain is felled by Beausejour on the right. He hobbles away but is fine to play on
Top Comments:
- Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
  
  I don't think Beausejour made any attempt on the ball there. That's a yellow card for me.
23

WHAT A CHANCE: Kone gets in behind Mertesacker, but, with the defender chasing him back, can only skew his shot wide
Top Comments:
- @BrunoBates on Twitter says:
  
  Fair play to Wigan for playing this way, however I only see them tiring as the game goes on
20

GOOD BLOCK: Gibbs cute the ball back to Walcott, and his effort at goal looks a good one until it's blocked
Top Comments:
- @morganArseCan on Twitter says:
  
  TW14 will have to shift wide to get out of defensive triangle
17

GET INVOLVED: Let us know your thoughts on Twitter #WAFCvAFC
14

FAN-TASTIC: Credit to the Arsenal supporters. The away end at Wigan is a large one, and they have virtually sold it out - it's a great effort
Top Comments:
- Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Huge Arsenal contingent today – 4,600 made it to Wigan from the capital. Terrific support.
11

BACK COME ARSENAL: Podolski's powerful drive is batted away by Al Habsi, before the German sees another shot blocked
11

WIGAN THREATEN: Kone bursts through the Arsenal half before his shot is deflected into the arms of Szczesny. He had options to his right there
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Wigan's best opportunity has been down the right,. If their crossing was a bit better they could put pressure on Wojciech Szczesny. Poor decision making
9

CLOSE: A great move by Arsenal ends with Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot being palmed away by Al Habsi
Top Comments:
- @Carlosramossala on Twitter says:
  
  It's surprising how confident Oxlade-Chamberlain is
8

TOUGH CONDITIONS: The wet pitch has made it hard for either team to get the ball down and play
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  It doesn't do Wigan any good to make this anything other than a good pitch because of the style of football they play
4

IT'S THEO UP TOP AGAIN: The England international has lined up centrally, with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski supporting him on the wings
2

GOOD START: Sagna and Oxlade-Chamberlain combine well down the right and force an early corner
Kick Off WE'RE UNDERWAY: The hosts kick us off but Arsenal immediately force a mistake and Wilshere almost finds Walcott
Top Comments:
- Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
  
  Incessent rain here in Wigan. It's been raining ALL day.
HERE THEY COME: The teams are led out by two of the strangest looking mascots I've ever seen. Come on Arsenal!
Top Comments:
- David Hillier on Arsenal Player says:
  
  I'm going with the Opta stats. I see four goals for Arsenal. But I think they'll make a mistake and let one in. So 4-1 to Arsenal
JUST FIVE MINUTES AWAY: Arsenal were 4-0 winners at the DW Stadium last season - Can they leave with three points again this time around?
WET WET WET: The rain is falling here at the DW Stadium. Both teams are in the final stages of their pre-match warm-up
Top Comments:
- David Hillier on Arsenal Player says:
  
  I'm a bit worried about Arsenal's central defenders slipping on the wet pitch.
ARSENAL UNCHANGED: Arsene Wenger has picked the same team that convincingly beat Reading on Monday evening. What do you think about his team selection? Tweet #WAFCvAFC to let us know
Top Comments:
- Jack Pommy Roberts on Facebook says:
  
  Good selection choice. I reckon it will be 3-1 to Arsenal
SUBS: Pollitt, Caldwell, Gomez, McManaman, Boselli, Fyvie, Golobart
WIGAN: Al Habsi, Stam, Boyce, Figueroa, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Jones, Di Santo, Kone, Maloney
SUBS: Mannone, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Coquelin, Ramsey, Arshavin, Gervinho
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott
The team news is in, so here it is...
You can get involved on Twitter as well. Our dedicated hashtag for the game is #WAFCvAFC
Our Matchday Show gets underway at 12.15pm (UK time) with Dan Roebuck and Richard Clarke in the commentary box and Richard Fleming and former Gunner David Hillier in the studio. Get in touch with them throughout the day at www.arsenal.com/studio
It's another huge game for Arsene Wenger who will, temporarily at least, go third with victory
Hello and welcome to Arsenal Player for live coverage of our Premier League game against Wigan at the DW Stadium