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  • Hall (81 og), Rosicky (85)
  • Landzaat (35)
  • Date:2007-02-11
  • Kick-off:16:00
  • Venue:Emirates Stadium
  • Attendance:60049
  • Referee:Dowd, P

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC: The last exausting whistle of the day blows and Arsenal claim all three points after another memorable afternoon of football.

90mins

Wigan make their final substitution bringing off Hall to be replaced by Haestad.

90mins

Fabregas is booked late on for another petchulant tackle as referee Dowd tries to calm things down at the end.

89mins

Another substitution made here as Wigan bring off their new striker Agahowa for Kevin Kilbane.

88mins

Taylor makes way for Antonio Valencia as with Wigan throwing in the kitchen sink late on here.

87mins

Lehmann is handed a yellow card for time wasting and will now miss the Carling Cup Final against rivals Chelsea.

85mins

The Czech Rosicky picks up a booking for his over zealous celebrations.

84mins

ARSENAL 2-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC (ROSICKY): Arsenal who have never given up on this game take a deserved lead at the end of the game here through a powerful header from Rosicky.

83mins

After a flurry of action McCulloch is booked for a silly foul late on.

82mins

Henry is booked for an exchange of words between him and Kirkland after the goal.

81mins

ARSENAL 1-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC (HALL): Flamini breaks into the box before sending a ball across goal which results in Fitz Hall smashing the ball into his own goal.

79mins

Flamini gets away with a tug at Heskey's shirt inside the box and Paul Jewell is furious.

78mins

Arsenal continue to pile on the pressure but just cant find a way through and look likely to lose this game now.

77mins

Arsenal win a free-kick right outside the Wigan box and win another corner from it.

75mins

Baines takes on Flamini and earns a free-kick in a very dangerous position for Wigan.

74mins

Adebayor tries the audacious flick round the corner for Henry but it doesn't come off and Wigan escape once again.

73mins

Adebayor has the ball in the back of the net but the flag has already been raised for offside.

72mins

Henry does superbly to hold off a number of opposition players before setting up a counter attack.

71mins

Adebayor is caught offside as Gilberto flicks the ball onto his team-mate.

70mins

Kirkland takes a goal kick which flies straight out of play.

68mins

Rosicky curls in the latest corner to the back post and wins yet another off the head of Boyce.

67mins

Mathieu Flamini and Jeremie Aliadiere come onto the pitch replacing Walcott and Hoyte.

66mins

Another corner falls into the hand of Kirkland as Arsenal start to feel the starin but still pile on the pressure.

65mins

Fabregas whips in a great corner for anybody who'd gamble to get on the end of it but Kirkland claims with ease.

64mins

Kirkland is left holding his stomach after being brought down by his own man.

63mins

Fabregas goes down under pressure in the box yet again but doesn't claim for a penalty and play goes on.

62mins

Rosicky makes a trademark run at goal before letting off another fabulous shot but his effort flashes wide for the umpteenth time today.

61mins

Baines earns himself a yellow for a foul on Walcott as Arsenal break.

60mins

Walcott receives the ball 25 yards out and swings a boot at the ball but his shot drifts high over the bar.

59mins

Toure does brilliantly at the back to deny Agahowa, coming across to clear the danger with a heavy swing of his right boot.

58mins

From the corner Arsenal win another but Kirkland comes out bravely and holds on to save Wigan.

56mins

Clichy looks to have been brought down in the box but yet again only a corner is given by Referee Dowd.

55mins

Baptista plays a ball flat across himself but its too long for Rosicky and Wigan break away.

53mins

Gilberto cleverly flicks the ball out to Rosicky at the back under pressure from Heskey.

52mins

Emmanuel Adebayor comes on to replace the injured Djourou.

50mins

Djourou sits on the side lines after feeling the full force of Heskey's elbow and doesn't look as though he seeing straight at the minute.

49mins

Djourou holds his head as he lays on the ground after colliding with Heskey in the air.

47mins

The Gunner support really getting behind their team now as they don't want this to be the first game lost in the league at their new ground.

46mins

Arsenal come out in the second half exactly as they did in the first, looking to play good looking football to feet.

45mins

Arsenal and Wigan come back out for the second half and have never failed to score at the Emirates in the Premier League.

45mins

HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC: The whistle goes for half-time after an enthraling half sees chances going begging at either end but Landzaat's goal sees Wigan lead at the break.

45mins

Henry this time climbs highest and his header lands just wide of Kirkland's frame.

45mins

Heskey breaks the offside trap brilliantly but his bent shot round Lehmann smacks back off the post.

45mins

Fabregas whips in a cross into the middle of the box but as it has been since the goal the Wigan defence are there to mop up superbly.

43mins

As Gilberto breaks into the box Kirkland comes out to clear with his feet as the tension mounts inside the Emirates.

42mins

Arsenal claim for a penalty as Henry goes down in the box but Phil Dowd plays on.

41mins

The Arsenal fans are beggining to get behind their team as they can sense a shock on the cards.

39mins

The Gunners try to pick up the pieces left after the shock opening goal a few minutes ago but even though they are dominating possession they are failing to make ground up-front.

37mins

Ryan Taylor wins the ball off Gilberto at the second attempt as Arsenal try to break Wigan down.

34mins

ARSENAL 0-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC (LANDZAAT): Landzaat bends a wonder goal past Lehmann in his goal to put Wigan one goal up and their fans delirious.

33mins

Wigan look to force a goal with another high ball into the box but McCulloch's header floats above Lehmann's head.

32mins

Lehmann gets lucky as he comes out and misses the ball, the referee blows for a foul in the box.

31mins

Wigan earn the first corner of the afternoon from a Baines cross and could spell trouble for Arsenal.

30mins

Toure is shown the first card of the afternoon for a nudge on Heskey much to the defenders bewilderment.

29mins

Skoko plays in McCulloch but the pass is too long and Lehmann has plenty of time to pick out an outfield colleague.

28mins

Clichy hangs up a cross into the box but the ball deceives all his team-mates and out for a throw-in to Wigan.

27mins

Henry is brought to the floor as he attemps to bring the ball forward and Arsenal can set up another attack from here.

26mins

Boyce gets lucky as Henry's cross nicks off his leg and skews inches wide of his own goal.

25mins

Toure has to help out Hoyte at the back and the Ivorian smacks the ball high out of the Arsenal half.

24mins

Henry whips the ball over the wall with his free-kick but Kirkland gets down well to save and holds on.

23mins

Baptista is dragged back and wins a dead-ball opportunity ina very dangerous position just outside the area.

22mins

Toure gets a nose bleed as he breaks into the box but the ball runs loose and Kirklamd can clear.

21mins

Leighton Baines is found by Skoko and the youngster cuts inside Hoyte but his cross come shot flies straight into the grateful arms of Lehmann.

20mins

Wigan have time at the back to play the ball around with ease but Arsenal win possession thanks to a long ball thats goes wrong from Kirkland.

18mins

Henry chips in a free-kick but the pass lacks height and Wigan clear in the air.

17mins

Josip Skoko has a chance down at the other end but his effort is weak and the ball bounces before going wide of the target.

16mins

Walcott charges down the right hand channel before sliding in a great pass along the floor for Henry but the Frenchman shoots high and wide.

15mins

Kolo Toure floats a ball high towards the left but the ball drifts harmlessly out of play.

14mins

Henry feeds Rosicky with a clever ball into the box but the Czech's effort flies wide of Kirkland and the goal.

13mins

Denny Landzaat strikes a fierce shot off at Lehmann's goal but the German saves excellently down to his right.

12mins

Theo Walcott and Julio Baptista break the off-side trap but the youngsters ball across goal for Henry is mistimed and Wigan escape.

10mins

Rosicky drops his shoulders and cuts inside before putting in a slap shot at Chris Kirkland's goal but the England stopper gets dwon well to field the shot.

9mins

Fitz Hall floors Tomas Rosicky around the half-way mark and Henry steps up to take the free-kick.

8mins

Gael Clichy slides in to win the ball out on the left with Wigan looking to break the home side down on the wings.

7mins

Arsenal loose the ball in the middle of the park only for good work from Gilberto Silva and Fabregas to win the ball back for the Gunners.

6mins

Wigan defend well once again as Henry tries to pull the strings.Wigan defend well once again as Henry tries to pull the strings.

5mins

Julius Agahowa finds the ball at his feet for the first time in this match and Wigan cross for Heskey at the back post but the big striker can't hit the target on the stretch.

4mins

Jens Lehmann cooly plays the ball out right to Johan Djourou who feeds Cesc Fabregas for another Arsenal attack.

3mins

Emile Heskey flicks the ball on with his head to Lee McCulloch but the Scot's striker's header misses the target.Emile Heskey flicks the ball on with his head to Lee McCulloch but the Scot's striker's header misses the target.

2mins

Arsenal attack straight from the kick-off with Thierry Henry breaking forward only for Emmerson Boyce to put in a great challenge.

1mins

Referee Dowd gets the game underway with Arsenal kicking off at the Emirates.

0mins

Wigan XI: Kirkland, Hall, Boyce, Jackson, Baines, Taylor, Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch, Heskey, Aghahowa

0mins

Arsenal XI: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky, Julio Baptista, Henry

0mins

The referee this afternoon is Phil Dowd and the man from Stoke has shown 41 yellow cards and two reds in 16 matches this season.

0mins

Wigan on the other hand have lost twice as many games as they have won this year and are yet to pick up a single point from any of the top four sides since their promotion to the Premiership.

0mins

Arsenal are yet to lose in any competition in 2007 and are still unbeaten at home in their new Emirates Stadium and will look to pick up a final three points before three games in the Champions League, FA and Carling Cups.

Match Preview

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger once again has a lengthy injury list to contend with as the busy Gunners battle on in four competitions.

Wenger has guided his side to a Carling Cup final against Chelsea later this month and a last 16 clash with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, but they face a tough task if they want to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup as they face a replay at Bolton Wanderers next week.

The Premiership continues to be a struggle for Wenger's side though, with last week's comeback draw at Middlesbrough after having Philippe Senderos sent off leaving them fourth in the table, a massive 17 points behind current leaders Manchester United.

Senderos is suspended for the visit of Wigan Athletic to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon after his red card at the Riverside Stadium. In addition Emmanuel Eboue (ankle), Abou Diaby (knee), Julio Baptista (groin), William Gallas (thigh), Robin van Persie (broken metatarsal), Alex Hleb (hamstring) and Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) are all struggling with injuries.

The Latics finally ended their dismal losing run by beating Portsmouth 1-0 last weekend - a result that lifted them five points clear of the bottom three.

Boss Paul Jewell has recalled goalkeeper Mike Pollitt from his loan spell at Burnley as a precaution as Chris Kirkland was forced to miss England's international friendly with Spain because of a shoulder problem.

The former Coventry City and Liverpool shot-stopper is expected to be fit enough to play on Sunday though. Leighton Baines was also forced to pull out of Steve McClaren's squad with the calf injury that led to him missing the victory against Pompey, but he is also expected to be fit enough to feature against the Gunners.

However, Henri Camara (knee), Paul Scharner (knee) and Arjan de Zeeuw (toe) are all currently struggling with their injury problems.


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Match Report

Arsenal came from behind with a late goal surge at the Emirates Stadium to beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 and reclaim fourth spot in the Premiership table.

The Gunners are now just one point behind Liverpool with a game in hand, but Paul Jewell's side slipped closer to the drop zone after suffering their ninth defeat in ten games.

The Gunners began brightly with Theo Walcott looking lively on the right flank.

Thierry Henry and Julio Baptista looked threatening and the latter was just inches away from getting on the end of a through ball from Henry after just four minutes.

Tomas Rosicky on the left flank was also looking dangerous with the Czech international forcing Chris Kirkland into a fine save on ten minutes and then hitting a fiercely struck effort just wide of the right post two minutes later.

Just before that, Jens Lehmann was forced to parry a 25-yard thunderous effort from Denny Landzaat - but better was to come from the midfielder.

The Gunners should really have taken the lead just before the quarter hour when Henry was free inside the six-yard area all alone. The normally reliable Gunners captain somehow blazed his left-footed effort high over the bar.

It was Wigan, however, who opened the scoring through Landzaat, whose 25-yard 35th minute shot winged its way high into the top left corner beyond Lehmann's despairing dive.

The visitors should have doubled their lead on 40 minutes when a ball over the top of the Arsenal defence fell on to the outstretched boot of Julius Aghahowa, but the Nigerian sliced his shot high and wide from five yards.

Emile Heskey thought he had made it 2-0 right on half-time when the Wigan striker ran on to a perfectly weighted ball from Ryan Taylor.

He slipped the ball past the oncoming Lehmann but as he turned to celebrate what looked like a certain goal, joy turned to pain as the ball bounced back off the inside of the right post allowing the Gunners keeper to gather.

Within seconds the ball was at the other end with Henry rising high to meet a Gael Clichy cross from the left, but his downward header bounced just wide of the left post.

The Gunners began the second half attacking the West Stand where 70 per cent of goals at the Emirates have been scored.

Heskey again went close to putting a dent in that statistic on 50 minutes when he latched on to a ball over the top. He accelerated into the right side of the Arsenal are but his effort was wide of the target.

A minute before that, the Wigan striker had put an arm across the face of Johan Djourou which signalled the end of the youngster's game and forced Arsene Wenger to gamble perhaps a little earlier than he had wanted.

The Arsenal boss sent on Emmanuel Adebayor with Gilberto stepping back into central defence.

Wigan didn't detract from their tactics and kept venturing forward whenever they could break.

Adebayor had a goal ruled out for offside on 72 minutes and Wigan's resolute defending looked as it may earn the visitors an unlikely three points.

But a Fitz Hall own goal on 81 minutes put paid to those hopes. The move began when Cesc Fabregas found Adebayor, who in turn slipped a ball into the path of an offside looking Mathieu Flamini.

The Frenchman delivered a cross towards Henry but it was diverted into his own net by Hall just before the Frenchman's outstretched boot reached the ball.

Wigan Manager Paul Jewell was still seething as his side were denied what looked like a penalty when Flamini hauled down Heskey.

The Gunners took advantage of Wigan's disarray and made it 2-1on 85 minutes when Adebayor found Baptista on the right wing.

The Brazilian then drilled a cross towards goal that was headed home from close range by Rosicky to claim all three points.

Arsenal

Wigan Athletic

Corners

101

Fouls

915

Goal attempts

108

Shots off target

75

Offsides

52

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