A hard-fought 3 points at Emirates
Highlights
Game Summary
There were concerning signs of a previous lethargy in the opening few minutes. Despite having been beaten 3-0 in the Carling Cup on November 11, Wigan showed admirable ambition.
In the opening minutes a shot from Wilson Palacios was diverted on by Emile Heskey and Almunia had to re-adjust to save low to his left.
Games turn on such incidents and Arsenal would make Wigan pay in the 16th minute, albeit with a touch of good fortune.
Cesc Fabregas prodded a regulation ball forward which seemed to go through Alex Song and his marker Titus Bramble on the edge of the area. Adebayor was waiting just behind them and had the simple job of collecting then stroking a shot past Chris Kirkland. A gift of a goal.
Van Persie nearly added another soon afterwards but Emmerson Boyce blocked his shot. However the Dutchman claimed the Barbados international had nudged him as he burst into the area.
Despite that Arsenal were not at their best. It was not exactly a poor performance just rather flat and lacking in invention.
Just before the half-hour, Almunia had to make another fine save from Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian had been flagged offside before he stole in at the far post to meet Ryan Taylor’s free-kick but that the keeper did not know that at the time.
A couple of minutes later Samir Nasri was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue. Earlier the Frenchman had been subject to a clattering challenge from Palacios. As a result, Nasri received treatment, the Honduran received a yellow card.
The change left Arsenal somewhat unbalanced in midfield and that was in keeping with their display. The home side had the goal but they hardly were dominating proceedings.
Two minutes before the break, Adebayor slammed an effort high over the bar. Along with the goal, Van Persie’s blocked shot and an early Nasri drive, that was the sum total their first-half chances. It was hardly the overwhelming Arsenal of old.
However, in injury time they did carve out another clear-cut chance. Denilson raced down the right and cut the ball back for Adebayor. His rasping low shot was touched onto the post by Kirkland. It would have been harsh on Wigan had it gone in.
The visitors started the second half on the front foot. Taylor fizzed a free-kick through a crowded area and then Emile Heskey nodded weakly at Almunia from five yards when he should have scored.
Arsenal were stung and the crowd were becoming restless. The team reacted with Van Persie firing wide and Bacary Sagna’s header forcing Kirkland into action at the near post.
Just before the hour, Wigan claimed a penalty when Toure challenged Henri Camara in the area but referee Steve Bennett was unmoved. Arsenal went up the other end and nearly scored. Denilson won the ball on the right and passed square to Van Persie. The Dutchman won himself a little space and curled a low shot inches past Kirkland’s right-hand post. A wonderful piece of work.
Van Persie was now Arsenal’s main attacking outlet. In the 63rd minute he waltzed around Bramble only to be hauled down by Lee Cattermole on the edge of the area. The 25-year-old took the free-kick himself and fired it just over the bar.
For the first time in the game, Arsenal were exerting real control and in the 65th minute they were nearly rewarded when Denilson hammered a shot against the post from the edge of the area.
However Wigan were not finished. Heskey’s near-post header was diverted wide. The resulting corner fell to Mario Melchiot eight yards out and the veteran defender sent in a powerful shot on the turn. Almunia threw himself at the ball and clawed it away from point-blank range. A stunning stop.
Suddenly the game had found its spark. Adebayor had two excellent chances to get the killer second and, following a scramble from a corner, Sagna volleyed wastefully wide.
However Arsenal were still finding it impossible to keep Wigan at bay. With 16 minutes left, Heskey found Valencia in space of the right and he slashed his shot wide.
By now, Steve Bruce had brought on striker Amr Zaki as he pushed for an equaliser. As dangerous as the visitors were, Arsenal remained the side more likely to score. In the dying minutes a Fabregas corner nearly crept in at the near post.
But, with the score at 1-0, Wigan still had hope and desire. In the 90th minute, Heskey powered a header a few inches over the bar.
The visitors continued to press and Arsenal endured a nerve-jangling three minutes of injury time.
When the whistle came, it was a blessed relief but, from an Arsenal perspective, the points were secure.
Source:Arsenal.com
Game Comments
Despite the three points,we didn’t put in our real strength.The last 20 minutes showed how weak our team in midfield.Eboue kept making mistakes,and we should be lucky that Wigan did not punish us for that.Had they scored a goal,we will disappoint most people in Emirates.
Fortunately for this time,Ade did take at least 1 chance correct and considered as a goal.
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