The Reason Why Mackems Will Be Sh**ing Their Pants!

Last updated : 14 May 2013 By Footy Mad - Editor

ARSENAL v WIGAN - THE HISTORY

2012/2013 Sat 22 Dec Wigan Ath. 0 - 1 Arsenal Premier League  
2011/2012 Mon 16 Apr Arsenal 1 - 2 Wigan Ath. Premier League  
 Sat 03 Dec Wigan Ath. 0 - 4 Arsenal Premier League  
2010/2011 Sat 22 Jan Arsenal 3 - 0 Wigan Ath. Premier League  
 Wed 29 Dec Wigan Ath. 2 - 2 Arsenal Premier League  
 Tue 30 Nov Arsenal 2 - 0 Wigan Ath. League Cup  
2009/2010 Sun 18 Apr Wigan Ath. 3 - 2 Arsenal Premier League  
 Sat 19 Sep Arsenal 4 - 0 Wigan Ath. Premier League  
2008/2009 Sat 11 Apr Wigan Ath. 1 - 4 Arsenal Premier League  
 Sat 06 Dec Arsenal 1 - 0 Wigan Ath. Premier League  
 Tue 11 Nov Arsenal 3 - 0 Wigan Ath. League Cup  
2007/2008 Sun 09 Mar Wigan Ath. 0 - 0 Arsenal Premier League  
 Sat 24 Nov Arsenal 2 - 0 Wigan Ath. Premier League  
2006/2007 Sun 11 Feb Arsenal 2 - 1 Wigan Ath. Premiership  
 Wed 13 Dec Wigan Ath. 0 - 1 Arsenal Premiership  
2005/2006 Sun 07 May Arsenal 4 - 2 Wigan Ath. Premiership  
 Tue 24 Jan Arsenal 2 - 1 Wigan Ath. League Cup  
after extra time, 90 minutes 1-0, Wigan Athletic won on away goals rule
 Tue 10 Jan Wigan Ath. 1 - 0 Arsenal League Cup  
 Sat 19 Nov Wigan Ath. 2 - 3 Arsenal Premiership  

2011/12 ARSENAL 1 WIGAN 2

ARSENAL:l Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou (Oxlade-Chamberlain 74), Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Song, Arteta (Ramsey 9), Walcott, Rosicky, Benayoun (Gervinho 61), van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Squillaci, Gibbs, Chamakh.

WIGAN: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Moses, Di Santo (Sammon 75), Gomez (Diame 86).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Ben Watson, McManaman, Jones, Stam.

Att: 60, 060

dWigan pulled off a shock win at Arsenal to boost their Barclays Premier League survival hopes.
 
Franco Di Santo fired the Latics - who last week beat leaders Manchester United - ahead on the break after seven minutes, before Jordi Gomez doubled their lead inside 90 seconds.

Thomas Vermaelen reduced the deficit with a bullet header on 21 minutes, but the second-half onslaught from the shellshocked Gunners never came as the Latics moved five points clear of the relegation zone.

It had been a bright start by Arsenal, who were looking to tighten their grip on third place, as Yossi Benayoun forced Ali Al Habsi into a fingertip save from his close-range header.

The Latics had brought a small following of only some 200, who had perhaps travelled more in hope than genuine expectation.

However, it was the visitors who took a shock lead on seven minutes.

Wigan broke quickly from an Arsenal corner through Gomez down the left, who clipped the ball through to the on-rushing Di Santo.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny raced to the edge of his area, but was beaten to the ball and the Wigan striker went on to knock into an empty net.

Before the away support had time to calm down, they were in dreamland again less than 90 seconds later.

This time Victor Moses did the damage down the left, turning Bacary Sagna inside out, with his cross not gathered by Szczesny - and Gomez was on hand to scramble the loose ball over the line.

dEmirates Stadium was left in stunned silence, with midfielder Mikel Arteta then limping off injured and replaced by Ramsey in the ninth minute.

Arsenal - who had won nine of their last 10 Premier League games - needed a response.

Benayoun was again denied by a fine one-handed save from Al Habsi as he looped Rosicky's cross towards the top corner.

The Gunners halved the deficit on 21 minutes when Vermaelen crashed in a bullet header from 12 yards after Rosicky's right-wing cross.

Al Habsi was alert again to beat away Robin van Persie's fierce drive as Arsenal pressed forward, centre-half Johan Djourou then dragging his shot just wide from the edge of the Wigan penalty area.

Arsenal maintained their momentum, and Rosicky should have done better than sky the ball high over the crossbar after being played in by Van Persie.

Wigan, who were unfortunate to lose at Chelsea amid some controversial decisions, continued to defend deep with two banks of four and made the most of any stoppages - much to the frustration of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal came out on the offensive at the start of the second half, with Andre Santos' shot deflecting just away from Van Persie and then Theo Walcott.

Wigan, though, stuck to their game plan of organised defending, while also looking to break quickly down the flanks.

Moses was a real handful for Sagna, and got away again into the Arsenal box on 52 minutes before forcing Szczesny into a reaction save.

Vermaelen headed over from Van Persie's corner, before Santos stabbed a cutback by his captain wide from six yards when he really should have hit the target.

Moses could have extended Wigan's advantage when put through on 59 minutes, but shot tamely at Szczesny.

Wenger had seen enough, replacing Benayoun with Gervinho to inject some fresh life into the attack.

There was then a stoppage as Di Santo and Sagna clashed heads, fortunately both were able to continue.

Arsenal stepped up the pressure again, but once more the Wigan rearguard stood firm.

With 16 minutes left, Wenger sent on teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, sacrificing Djourou as Alex Song dropped into the back four. Wigan responded by replacing Di Santo with Conor Sammon.

Gervinho was switching flanks intermittently, and his ball from the left floated across the face of goal.

Maynor Figueroa appeared to barge Walcott over as the Arsenal forward scampered away down the right, but referee Andre Marriner waved play on.

There was five minutes of stoppage time, but despite plenty of Arsenal pressure, Wigan held out for a deserved win, their first at Emirates Stadium, which could just keep them in the Premier League.