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  • Mido (18)
  • Walcott (61), Silvestre (71), Song (90), Arshavin (90)
  • Date:2009-04-11
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:The JJB Stadium
  • Attendance:22954
  • Referee:Wiley, A

Live Commentary

90mins

Full-Time: WIGAN 1-4 ARSENAL. Three goals in the last 20 minutes made the score look comfortable in the end, but Arsenal were made to work for their points and Steve Bruce will be annoyed that his side didn't capitalise on earlier chances.

90mins

WIGAN 1-4 ARSENAL: Fabregas is the provider and SONG, who was just inside the penalty area, fires home to to make it 4-1.

90mins

WIGAN 1-3 ARSENAL. More good build-up play by Arsenal, and ARSHAVIN receives the ball on the edge of the box and fires home to seal victory.

88mins

Alexandre Song is booked for unsporting behaviour.

88mins

Titus Bramble is cautioned.

87mins

Emmerson Boyce is booked, much to the bemusement of the Wigan player.

85mins

There isn't long left in this game, but there has been many stoppages and the fans can expect alot of injury time.

84mins

Jason Koumas comes on for Ben Watson, who has been Wigan's best player this afternoon.

83mins

Van Persie receives a booking much to the delight of the home fans.

80mins

Nicklas Bendtner kicks the ball away, many players have been booked for this action, however the Arsenal striker gets away with it.

77mins

Arsenal will be looking to close this game out, but with only a goal lead, there is always a fine line between defence and attack.

76mins

Daniel de Ridder comes on for Michael Brown.

75mins

Robin van Persie taps the ball into the back of the net, however, the linesman had his flag up, and the Dutchman just strayed off there as Arshavin played the assist.

71mins

WIGAN 1-2 ARSENAL. Great build up-play by Arsenal, and SILVESTRE, the most unlikely of players, scores at the back post to give the Gunners the lead.

69mins

Michael Brown is cautioned.

68mins

Emmanuel Adebayor has come on for Walcott.

66mins

Boyce gets his head to a Ben Watson corner, however the effort goes wide, this game is wide open and is there for the taking.

63mins

Robin van Persie comes on for Denilson.

61mins

WIGAN 1-1 ARSENAL.There's a scramble inside the Wigan box and, after Arshavin gets a defining touch, WALCOTT strikes to level the scores.

58mins

Olivier Kapo comes on for Ahmed Hossam Mido.

57mins

Arsenal are still struggling to get a foothold in this game, and Wenger must be getting worried as Wigan could have put three past them before the hour mark.

53mins

In that previous contest with Lukasz Fabianski, Mido seems to be flatened by the Gunners keeper, and the striker has a bloody nose for his troubles.

51mins

Gibbs clears the ball off the line after Mido beats the keeper to the ball and heads it over him towards goal, and Gibbs, who is lucky to still be on the pitch, saves the Gunners.

48mins

Valencia and Mido combine to good effect, Mido has the chance to pull the trigger inside the box, but the striker is tackled and the ball is cleared.

46mins

The game restarts, and will Wigan be able to continue their form of the first half into the second?

45mins

Half-Time: WIGAN 1-0 ARSENAL. The referee blows his whistle, and the sides go into the break with Wigan a goal to the good. It could have been more for the home side! Arsenal need to vastly improve if they want anything from this game.

45mins

Ben Watson hits the post with a direct free-kick, and Wigan were inches away from going 2 goals up.

45mins

Gibbs appears to bring down Valencia, who would have been going through on goal, the home fans scream for a red card, but the referee only issues a yellow, Gibbs can count himself lucky there.

43mins

Bramble blocks a Denilson effort on goal, and it looks like Wigan will be taking that single goal lead into the break.

42mins

Fabregas knocks the ball down to Mikael Silvestre, who tries to stab the ball home, however the ball deflects to Song, who hits it over.

39mins

Arsenal are certainly not in full flow today, and as we stand, Wigan have every chance of taking some points off the Gunners.

36mins

Gibbs is penalised for handball and gives away a free-kick, however, the free-kick is to no avail as Denilson is fouled inside the area and Arsenal are awarded a free-kick.

34mins

Mikael Silvestre comes on to replace Johan Djourou.

32mins

Scharner again gets his head onto a Wigan corner, but his flick-on is cleared, Arsenal must be worried that Scharner is showing alot of ariel dominance over the Gunners defence.

29mins

Mido seems to be in a bit of trouble after being involved in a heavy challenge, however, after receiving treatment on the sidelines, he seems able to play on.

27mins

Wigan have yet in the Premier League, beaten any of the ''top four'', infact Arsenal have not lost in the 7 previous meetings, can today be any different?

23mins

Gibbs puts in a great cross for Arsenal, Nicklas Bendtner looks to nod it goalwards, however he cant connect with the delivery.

20mins

Hugo Rodallega puts in a great low ball for Paul Scharner infront of goal, Scharner misses the connection by inches, and Wigan are very much on top in this game.

18mins

WIGAN 1-0 ARSENAL. Mido scores! Wigan put the corner in, Scharner heads the ball down, and MIDO converts from close range to give Wigan a surprise lead.

13mins

Good goalkeeping by Kirkland from an Arsenal corner, he comes out strong and collects the ball before distributing it forwards.

10mins

A couple of half chances so far in the game, however, not much to write home about in terms of golden opportunities.

7mins

The game has been relatively open so far in the opening exchanges, and Steve Bruce will happy that his side are competing with the Gunners.

5mins

Arsenal certainly have the best of Wigan according to the record books, and with Wenger resting players for the game today, the Gunners manager certainly feels that his side should be taking maximum points today.

2mins

Arshavin is adjudged to have been fouled, however Wigan feel that the referee's decision is a bit harsh.

1mins

Alan Wiley is the referee for today's game at the JJB stadium, and he gets the game underway.

0mins

Arsenal begin the game with: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs, Walcott, Denilson, Song Billong, Arshavin, Fabregas, Bendtner

0mins

Eduardo, Diaby, Almunia and Gallas are all out through injury as Adebayor drops to the bench alongside Van Persie, Arshavin returns to the starting line-up after he had to sit out midweek.

0mins

Egyptian striker Zaki is omitted from the squad as Rodallega comes in to start and Koumas begins on the bench as Wigan start with: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Watson, Brown, Rodallega, Scharner, Mido

Match Preview

Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce hopes his side can bounce back from Sunday's 4-0 thrashing at Everton when they entertain fourth-placed Arsenal on Saturday.

Last month's narrow victory against Hull City effectively banished any lingering relegation thoughts for the Latics and they seem certain to be starting a fifth successive season in the Premier league in August.

However, Bruce saw signs of his side taking it easy at Goodison Park last weekend and has warned them that the last seven games of the campaign need to be taken seriously.

He admitted: "The mentality at the club last season was all geared to staying in the Premier League which we achieved in the second-to-last game by beating Aston Villa.

"The year before, the club had to wait until the final game at Sheffield United to stay up, and did so by one goal.

"I hope the mentality is different now - it's not enough to think that we've done our job. We've a lot to play for yet. We want to finish as high as we can, and we owe that to the supporters and ourselves."

Long-term casualties Amr Zaki (hamstring) and Won Hee Cho (calf) again miss out but Bruce has no new injury concerns going into the game.

Arsenal's season could still end in glory with a top-four finish now highly likely and the potential for success in the FA Cup and Champions League a strong possibility.

A 17-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, coupled with Aston Villa's recent capitulation, has seen them move into a strong position in the race for fourth spot and last weekend's 2-0 victory against Manchester City was their fourth successive three-point haul in the league.

Injuries continue to play a key part in the Gunners' season though with William Gallas (knee ligaments) and Manuel Almunia (ankle) both having to be substituted in the first half of the midweek Champions League draw with Villarreal.

Gallas has subsequently been ruled out for the remainder of the season in what is a massive blow, while Almunia will be sidelined for at least three weeks during a vital period of the season.


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Match Report

Wigan Athletic looked on course to finally get a first elusive win over one of the Premier League's 'big four' until the Gunners ran riot in the second half.

On-loan Mido gave the Latics the lead and Ben Watson was denied a second by the woodwork after Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs had been fortunate not to be sent off when he brought down Luis Antonio Valencia in the first half.

Egypt star Mido was also unlucky to have a header cleared off the line after the break before the Gunners hit back with a killer double.

Theo Walcott got the equaliser and Mikael Silvestre hammered in the second as Arsenal stretched their unbeaten league run to 18 games with Andrey Arshavin and Alexandre Song adding to Wigan's agony with
late strikes.

The Gunners were below strength with Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy,Abou Diaby and William Gallas among the absentees and for Wigan Hugo Rodallega replaced the injured Charles N'Zogbia, the only change from last week.

The Latics deservedly took the lead when Mido's free-kick came off the wall and went for a corner. Watson floated it into the box, it was headed back in by Paul Scharner and Mido struck from six yards.

It took a touch off Bacary Sagna and, although keeper Lukasz Fabianski got a hand to it, he could not keep it out.

Wigan - and their fans - were furious when Valencia was brought down by Gibbs as he raced in on goal.

It looked like a red card offence but ref Alan Wiley opted for yellow and, from the free-kick, Watson's shot hit the post.

Rodallega hammered a free-kick over the bar and Mido was desperately unlucky not to get his second of the game.

He went in bravely as the keeper raced out and still got in the header but Gibbs got back to stop it crossing the line.

Mido, who needed treatment for cuts to the mouth, had to be replaced by Olivier Kapo.

Chris Kirkland had not had a save to make before Arsenal grabbed the equaliser on the hour after Arshavin managed to get the ball to Walcott and the young England star made no mistake from ten yards.

The unmarked Silvestre then thumped in the second and Arshavin hit the post with Robin van Persie ruled to be just offside when he fired the rebound past Kirkland.

The Latics kept plugging away with Watson testing Fabianski with a free-kick, and Scharner shooting wide, but Arsenal finished in style with those two late goals by Arshavin and Song.

Wigan Athletic

Arsenal

Corners

65

Fouls

1516

Goal attempts

1116

Shots off target

57

Offsides

92

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