Premier League - Gunners waltz past Wigan

Eurosport - Sun, 20 Sep 08:32:00 2009

Arsenal got back to winning ways in the Premier League with a convincing 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates.

Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen scores the opening goal during the Premier League match v Wigan at the Emirates Stadium, FOOTBALL - 0

A goal in each half from defender Thomas Vermaelen was accompanied by Emmanuel Eboue's second-half flick and a 90th-minute Cesc Fabregas strike as the Gunners maintained their excellent record against Wigan.

The result means the north Londoners have now won 10 of their 12 encounters with Wigan in all competitions, and have beaten the Latics seven times out of seven at home.

Robin van Persie returned to the starting line-up to replace Nicklas Bendtner for Arsene Wenger's side, and the Dutchman was a central figure in a game dominated by the hosts.

The Gunners flew out of the blocks, pressing Wigan back as the visitors barely made it out of their own half inside the opening 20 minutes. A brief foray forward saw Vito Mannone, who continued in goal in the absence of Manuel Almunia, make a hash of a clearance, but the action unfolded at the other end of the pitch for the most part.

Van Persie had an effort blocked by Maynor Figueroa and then curled a free-kick just wide as the Latics struggled to cope with their opponents, while Eboue fired marginally over from 18 yards as Arsenal overran Roberto Martinez's side.

The pressure continued when the Ivorian squared for Van Persie inside Wigan's area only for his team-mate to mis-time his shot, but on 25 minutes the continued assault yielded a pay-off. Van Persie's corner was met by Vermaelen, whose powerful header punished a static Wigan defence and gave Arsenal the lead they deserved.

A second seemed imminent and Eboue nearly notched it when he overlapped Van Persie but failed to beat Chris Kirkland on the angle as he pulled a shot wide, but as half time approached Wigan did a little probing of their own.

Mannone was forced into a good reaction stop from Emmerson Boyce at his far post when the Latics won a corner, while Bacary Sagna had to stick a timely toe in to deny Mohamed Diame when the Wigan man looked primed to shoot inside Arsenal's box.

However, it was Arsenal who had the best chance to score the next goal before half time when Fabregas found an unmarked Van Persie on the penalty spot. With no offside flag the forward chested and tried to volley on the turn, but scuffed the effort when he had time to take the ball down.

The half-time whistle brought with it a sense of missed opportunity for the hosts but any doubts were dispelled immediately after the restart as Vermaelen struck his, and Arsenal's second.

An exchange of passes with Eboue allowed the Belgian to curl a superb effort into the top-left corner from the edge of the area, giving his side a comfortable lead by adding his third league goal of the season.

Wigan had a marvellous chance to get back in the game just before the hour mark when Hugo Rodallega was set in on goal, but the striker failed to test Mannone with a weak shot straight at the keeper, and moments later Arsenal were three goals up.

Eduardo struck the post with a volley, via the fingertips of Kirkland, and then reacted quickest to the loose ball to sweep it goalward. Eboue got a decisive flick to change the course of the ball and take it past Wigan's keeper as Arsenal extended their lead further with 30 minutes still to play.

Alex Song then tried to get in on the act as he ran unchallenged before striking the post, and Van Persie mis-timed another shot inside Wigan's area as a fourth goal was threatened.

Wigan did have the ball in the back of the net inside the final 10 minutes but their goal was disallowed for offside, as Paul Scharner tapped in a rebound after Jason Scotland's shot was diverted onto the post by Mannone. Hendry Thomas was then just off target with a header at a corner, as the visitors mounted something of a late rally.

It was Arsenal's day though and in the final minute Fabregas beat a motionless Wigan defence to meet Bendtner's low cross to the near post to complete the rout.

Joseph Caron Dawe / Eurosport

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  1. I note that Kolo was Guilty of the defencive lapse that­ led to Man u scoring twice
    He does not seem as quick as­ he once was
    I also have to say Rio was very bad vidic­ got him out of bother a couple of times Foster well­ Sir A like us you need a GK to understudy Van Der Sar

    From Alex F, on Mon 21 Sep 11:27PM

  2. our best player against wigan was not Vermaelen. Alex­ Sond for me without doubt was our best player. In fact­ he is at present the SPINE of our team. He is the ONLY­ combatant in the team outside the back four. And he­ works tirelessly for 90 mins. he is in every battle all­ over the pitch while the others are claiming the­ glamour passing game.

    Song still makes one or two­ passing errors per game and may not have the vision of­ Fabregas to make a killer pass beyond ten metres BUT he­ is very fast improving. Once he can add shooting to his­ game and maintain the improvements in passing, he would­ become world class.

    When we play teams like Chelsea,­ Stoke, Hull, Wolves etc Song will be the first on­ wengers team list. in fact denilson speed is the only­ area that he is better than Song at present.

    From Robert O, on Mon 21 Sep 7:33PM

  3. our best player against wigan was not Vermaelen. Alex­ Sond for me without doubt was our best player. In fact­ he is at present the SPINE of our team. He is the ONLY­ combatant in the team outside the back four. And he­ works tirelessly for 90 mins. he is in every battle all­ over the pitch while the others are claiming the­ glamour passing game.

    Song still makes one or two­ passing errors per game and may not have the vision of­ Fabregas to make a killer pass beyond ten metres BUT he­ is very fast improving. Once he can add shooting to his­ game and maintain the improvements in passing, he would­ become world class.

    When we play teams like Chelsea,­ Stoke, Hull, Wolves etc Song will be the first on­ wengers team list. in fact denilson speed is the only­ area that he is better than Song at present.

    From Robert O, on Mon 21 Sep 7:33PM

  4. in praising a new player let's not take away from­ somebody else's good work. Kolo Toure served the­ team well BUT am I glad that we got VERMAELEN??????­ Arsenal Rules....

    From mpumedanisa, on Mon 21 Sep 12:00AM

  5. age-minger god this is for foot-ball not bloody­ spaming your @#$%...derrr

    From Von, on Sun 20 Sep 4:37PM

  6. It's blatant to see a premier league team can't­ even string a few passess together. Wigan &­ similarly, portsmouth players should feel ashame to­ receive their pay checks

    From louis_tlh, on Sun 20 Sep 12:54PM

  7. now we just focus on Chamakh..
    Arsenal can get him on­ januari..
    that moment arsenal will be perfect when­ nasri,walcott,rosicky and arshavin 100percent fit..
    I­ cant wait see they back..
    GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!­ ARSSSSSSSEEENNNNAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

    From Muhammad, on Sun 20 Sep 12:48PM

  8. good to see varmaelen every game..
    he better then­ toure..
    good investment AW..

    From Muhammad, on Sun 20 Sep 12:41PM

  9. Vermaelen=best defender in the world,because he can­ score many goals and defend very well.

    From Kah Wai, on Sun 20 Sep 10:44AM

  10. Now I know who sold ronaldo and tevez behind our backs­ ! It was adebayor ! And pocketed the whole cash .lol

    From elias, on Sun 20 Sep 8:44AM

  11. i guess all those who criticized Wenger for not­ spending enough are now speechless. Two buys - two­ perfect acquisitions. Both Arshavin and Vermaelen have­ ideally fit us. Don't even know how AW gets it­ right all the time... And, we still have walcott,­ nasri, vela coming back... Hope we'll make it to­ the top 4 at least

    From RustamJ, on Sun 20 Sep 1:58AM

  12. vermaelan is bloody excellent. cant wait for arsenal to­ have a full squad again when nasri, arshavin, walcott,­ rosicky n all that are back at 100 percent.

    From John G, on Sun 20 Sep 12:38AM

  13. Vermalen is excelent ivestment!!!! But wait for­ Arshavin...THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    GO­ GUNNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ARSENAL FOREVER!!!

    From L.K., on Sat 19 Sep 11:10PM

  14. Donney..... not funny simply a dopey waste of space­ @#$%.

    From Delberto Gooner, on Sat 19 Sep 11:03PM

  15. I was and right to the end... All the feckers that left­ before the end will have missed the 4th.....

    From Invicta, on Sat 19 Sep 11:01PM

  16. Glad for you that you ''was'' there

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 19 Sep 10:46PM

  17. i was there, was you? was a good game! well done­ arsenal!

    From Ethan, on Sat 19 Sep 9:33PM

  18. Wait till Nasri and Arshavin come back and Rosicky gets­ fully fit. Look out

    From tom h, on Sat 19 Sep 8:54PM

  19. vermaelen is one good player and he is new to the club­ and he is so young all ready and scored a few goals

    From lisawoods1974, on Sat 19 Sep 8:22PM

  20. varmeelen is pure class much better then toure and he­ is only 23

    From bradipaki, on Sat 19 Sep 8:17PM
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