FOOTBALL Live

Saturday September 19, 2009 Finished Emirates Stadium

4 - 0

Arsenal

  • Vermaelen 25’, 49’
  • da Silva 59’
  • Fábregas 90’

Wigan Athletic

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  1. Gunners waltz past Wigan

    Gunners waltz past Wigan

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

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • Wigan Athletic
    • - Thanks for joining us today! Why not scoot on over and follow our coverage of West Ham and Liverpool's encounter at Upton Park by clicking here
    • - FT. And it's a convincing 4-0 win for Arsenal against Wigan.
    • 90'+3 Rosicky forces a save from Kirkland as Arsenal finish with a flourish.
    • 90' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Fabregas makes it four! He steals in at the near post to meet Bendtner's low cross. Terrible defending, and it's now 4-0!
    • 88' Bendtner can't keep a header down as he meets Sagna's cross from the right.
    • 87' Sinclair comes on for Rodallega. It's been a frustrating day for the striker. A lack of support and he fluffed the one chance he had.
    • 86' Wigan have the ball in Arsenal's half, but a stray pass ends any hopes of an attack. They've been off the pace today...
    • 84' Close for Wigan! Thomas meets a corner at the far post but is just off target with his header...
    • 81' DISALLOWED GOAL FOR WIGAN! That sums up their day! Scotland does well to pivot and get a shot off. Mannone tips it onto the post, and Scharner follows up for a tap-in. But the Austrian was offside when Scotland struck...
    • 80' Sagna mis-hits a cross and for a moment it looks like it might cause Kirkland some trouble. He watches it all the way though and takes the catch.
    • 79' Scharner with a great block on Van Persie as the Dutchman gets ready to pull the trigger. Nice build-up from the Gunners...
    • 78' Rodallega fires a free-kick on target from 25 yards but it's a simple enough take for Mannone.
    • 76' Ramsey shoots from 25 yards with Wigan standing off him. He pulls his effort wide however.
    • 73' Double change for Arsenal as Rosicky and Bendtner replace Eboue and Eduardo.
    • 72' Wigan press Arsenal but Sagna wins a free-kick out of Rodallega on the edge of the Gunners' area.
    • 70' Wigan have the ball on the edge of Arsenal's area but Ramsey blocks Scotland's attempted shot...
    • 69' Eduardo lays Ramsey on but he skies a shot over as he opens his body up 15 yards out.
    • 68' Van Persie with another mis-timed shot as he misses inside the area having been laid in on a free-kick. Eduardo then draws a save from Kirkland after being fed with a long ball.
    • 67' Diaby makes way for Ramsey as Arsenal make a change.
    • 66' Song almost scores a virtuso goal! He runs through Wigan, with everyone standing off him, before striking the outside of the left post with a low shot.
    • 65' Scharner goes into the book...
    • 64' Arsenal look hungry for more. They're still probing Wigan.
    • 62' It seems as though the goal is going to be credited to Eboue instead, as he appeared to get a decisive touch to take the ball away from Kirkland...
    • 61' And there it is. Wigan had a great chance through Rodallega to get back in the game, but instead of 2-1 it's now 3-0...
    • 59' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Eduardo sweeps the ball in from 12 yards. Clichy crosses to the far post where Eduardo lashes a volley which Kirkland gets a fingertip on to divert onto the post. The rebound comes out and Eduardo reacts quickest to make it 3-0.
    • 58' Poor finish from Rodallega! He's in on goal but fails to test Mannone with a weak shot straight at the keeper...
    • 57' Double substitution for Wigan. Koumas makes way for Scharner and Gomez comes off for Scotland.
    • 55' Wigan forced to go all the way back to Kirkland. They don't seem to have any ideas at the moment of how to trouble Arsenal.
    • 53' Gomez gets booked for flying in on Song.
    • 51' Arsenal now look like they could hit a few more. Wigan just can't retain possession when they have it, much less make it out of their own half...
    • 49' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Vermaelen hits his second! Superb finish from the defender, and not the kind of finish you'd expect from a centre-back! He exchanges passes with Eboue and curls a deft effort into the top-left corner from the edge of the Wigan area. 2-0 to Arsenal!
    • 48' Arsenal pinning Wigan back as they did in the first half.
    • 47' Fabregas loses out in midfield but Arsenal manage to win a free-kick.
    • 46' And we're back on at Emirates...
    • - HT. A dominant half from Arsenal, but they only lead 1-0 at the break. Will they rue their missed chances?
    • 45'+3 Figueroa gets down the left for Wigan and crosses, but Vermaelen heads clear.
    • 45'+1 Diaby's mazy run allows him to feed Eboue inside the area. Wigan hold him off, before Fabregas dinks the ball to Van Persie on the penalty spot. HE'S IN ACRES OF SPACE! He chests, turns and tries to volley but scuffs it. Eduardo can't make it to the far post to turn the ball in!
    • 44' Van Persie spins and tries to shoot inside Wigan's area as Fabregas finds him with a pass, but he mis-time the effort and scuffs.
    • 42' Great move from Arsenal! Eduardo feeds Van Persie inside and he scoops the ball on target, but pressure from Boyce and a good save from Kirkland deny Arsenal a second.
    • 41' Sagna gets a crucial toe in as Diame primes to shoot! Wigan manage to breach the Arsenal back four as Gomez lays Diame on, but he takes a touch instead of hitting a first-time shot and that allows Sagna to get in. Arsenal defend the corner...
    • 39' Arsenal get forward again, but Wigan break. Song picks up a booking for a cynical block on Gomez, who tries to skip past the midfielder...
    • 37' GOOD SAVE FROM MANNONE! The corner finds Boyce at the far post but his header is met by a smart reaction stop from the Arsenal keeper. Gallas then hooks the ball away with an overhead kick, there's a scramble inside the Gunners' area before Rodallega eventually shoots wide from 20 yards...
    • 36' A long ball over the top catches Arsenal's back four out and Rodallega takes it on. Gallas makes it back though and Wigan have a corner...
    • 35' Wasted chance for Wigan as N'Zogbia over-hits a free-kick and Arsenal have the goal-kick.
    • 34' Nice from Arsenal! Van Persie finds Eboue on the overlap on the right, inside the Wigan area. He takes it on and tries to beat Kirkland on the angle but curls the ball across the face of goal and away with his right foot.
    • 33' Gomez works the corner short and manages to get a cross to Boyce at the far post. He knocks it down and Diaby hacks the ball clear inside Arsenal's six-yard area.
    • 32' Van Persie floats in yet another free-kick, which Wigan manage to clear. They get into Arsenal's half and Rodallega wins a corner out of Clichy...
    • 30' Arsenal are straight back on it though as Eduardo wins another corner. It's defended, but not very convincingly.
    • 29' Gomez wins a free-kick on halfway out of Song, and Wigan have some respite...
    • 28' Wigan manage to clear, but not very far. Arsenal regain possession immediately and build from just inside Wigan's half.
    • 27' But Van Persie lifts the set piece into the wall. No matter though, as Arsenal win another free-kick wide on the left and it'll be delivered into the area.
    • 26' Wigan aren't helping themselves one bit. Eboue is brought down by Bramble on the edge of the area and wins the free-kick. Dangerous spot...
    • 25' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Vermaelen hammers in a header from the corner as he catches Wigan's defence static. Great finish, and it's 1-0 to Arsenal.
    • 24' Eduardo wins Arsenal a corner as Boyce blocks his shot. Arsenal are bossing it...
    • 23' Gallas goes down in a challenge with Rodallega, and requires some treatment on the pitch. He went down clutching his face, having caught a stray arm.
    • 22' Eboue picks up the first yellow card of the game as he deliberately handballs at the far post, frustrated by the height of Eduardo's cross.
    • 21' CLOSE FOR ARSENAL! Gallas with a perfectly-placed through ball for Eboue down the inside right channel. He squares it inside the area for Van Persie, but the Dutchman mis-times his shot - with the ball just behind him as well - and bundles it wide. Wigan carved open there...
    • 20' Eboue's just over with a shot from the edge of the area as he fires with his second touch. Eduardo knocked it down for him, and he was only just off target.
    • 19' Fabregas holds onto the ball inside the final third before winning a throw. An accidental knee in the head from Diame sees him go down.
    • 17' And Van Persie curls his effort just a foot or so wide of Kirkland's right-hand post...
    • 16' Diame fouls Diaby and Fabregas drifts in the free-kick. Diaby tries to get the ball onto his right foot for a shot, before the Gunners win another set piece on the edge of the area. RVP to strike it...
    • 15' Melchiot's slip on halfway allows Eduardo to advance. His attempted through ball for Van Persie is cut out by Bramble, who's been an important figure for the Latics in these opening stages.
    • 14' Diaby fancies his chances from 25 yards but hits a rising shot into the stands.
    • 13' Figueroa puts in an important block on Van Persie who spins and toes a shot inside Wigan's area. Problems at the corner as Kirkland loses the looping ball in the sun and Bramble has to hook off the line!
    • 11' A clash of heads with Melchiot means Eduardo has to have some pitchside treatment from the physio. He's okay after a minute or two.
    • 10' Timely challenge from Gallas on N'Zogbia as Mannone's indecision and poor clearance gives Wigan a sniff of a chance. That could've been costly for the hosts...
    • 9' Figueroa gets enough of a block on Eboue's cross from the right side to take the sting out of it as Kirkland catches at the near post.
    • 8' Van Persie hammers a volley on the turn well over after Koumas gets it all wrong when trying to let the ball run out.
    • 7' Wigan get their first sighting of goal and Rodallega sees enough to get a shot off. It's blocked though.
    • 6' Wigan give the ball away carelessly in midfield but Arsenal fail to break cleanly. Wigan have been sloppy so far.
    • 5' Arsenal have taken control of early proceedings here, and Wigan can't even make it out of their own half at the moment.
    • 3' Clichy again gets down the left and cuts the ball into the area. There are muted appeals against Thomas for a handball inside Wigan's area as the ball strikes his arm. Unintentional, and the ref knows it as he waves play on.
    • 2' Fabregas's attempt is charged down by the wall however as the set piece fails to yield anything.
    • 2' Early break from the Gunners and Clichy gets forward down the left. His cross is cut out at the near post though. Arsenal have a free-kick within shooting range now...
    • 1' And we're underway as Arsenal get things going...
    • - Teams out on the pitch and we're all ready for kick-off...
    • - Today's referee is Mike Jones.
    • - There are three other games kicking off at the same time as this one. You can follow all the action by clicking here
    • - Wigan line-up as expected. WIGAN: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Thomas, Diame, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Koumas, Rodallega. SUBS: Pollitt, Edman, Cho, Scharner, Scotland, Sinclair, King.
    • - TEAM NEWS is in. We'll start with Arsenal, who continue with Mannone in goal in the absence of Almunia, but Rosicky does not start and is on the substitutes' bench. Eduardo and Van Persie lead the line, with Bendtner on the bench. ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue, Song Billong, Fabregas, Diaby, Eduardo, Van Persie. SUBS: Szczesny, Rosicky, Ramsey, Silvestre, Wilshere, Gibbs, Bendtner.
    • - So how will Arsenal respond to their 4-2 defeat at Manchester City? Surely anything other than three points at home against Wigan is unthinkable, although Wigan are coming off the back of a morale-boosting win over West Ham...
    • - Wigan have only scored seven goals in their last 11 Premier League games and five of those have been netted by Hugo Rodallega.
    • - Tomas Rosicky has scored in both his Premier League appearances against Wigan.
    • - Arsenal have won all six games in all competitions at home to Wigan.
    • - The last three league games at the Emirates Stadium have ended with a 4-1 scoreline, as did the last meeting between Arsenal and Wigan, in Wigan.
    • - Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Wigan from the Emirates.

  • Summary

    • - Thanks for joining us today! Why not scoot on over and follow our coverage of West Ham and Liverpool's encounter at Upton Park by clicking here
    • 90'+3 Rosicky forces a save from Kirkland as Arsenal finish with a flourish.
    • 90' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Fabregas makes it four! He steals in at the near post to meet Bendtner's low cross. Terrible defending, and it's now 4-0!
    • 84' Close for Wigan! Thomas meets a corner at the far post but is just off target with his header...
    • 81' DISALLOWED GOAL FOR WIGAN! That sums up their day! Scotland does well to pivot and get a shot off. Mannone tips it onto the post, and Scharner follows up for a tap-in. But the Austrian was offside when Scotland struck...
    • 79' Scharner with a great block on Van Persie as the Dutchman gets ready to pull the trigger. Nice build-up from the Gunners...
    • 68' Van Persie with another mis-timed shot as he misses inside the area having been laid in on a free-kick. Eduardo then draws a save from Kirkland after being fed with a long ball.
    • 66' Song almost scores a virtuso goal! He runs through Wigan, with everyone standing off him, before striking the outside of the left post with a low shot.
    • 62' It seems as though the goal is going to be credited to Eboue instead, as he appeared to get a decisive touch to take the ball away from Kirkland...
    • 59' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Eduardo sweeps the ball in from 12 yards. Clichy crosses to the far post where Eduardo lashes a volley which Kirkland gets a fingertip on to divert onto the post. The rebound comes out and Eduardo reacts quickest to make it 3-0.
    • 58' Poor finish from Rodallega! He's in on goal but fails to test Mannone with a weak shot straight at the keeper...
    • 49' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Vermaelen hits his second! Superb finish from the defender, and not the kind of finish you'd expect from a centre-back! He exchanges passes with Eboue and curls a deft effort into the top-left corner from the edge of the Wigan area. 2-0 to Arsenal!
    • 45'+1 Diaby's mazy run allows him to feed Eboue inside the area. Wigan hold him off, before Fabregas dinks the ball to Van Persie on the penalty spot. HE'S IN ACRES OF SPACE! He chests, turns and tries to volley but scuffs it. Eduardo can't make it to the far post to turn the ball in!
    • 44' Van Persie spins and tries to shoot inside Wigan's area as Fabregas finds him with a pass, but he mis-time the effort and scuffs.
    • 42' Great move from Arsenal! Eduardo feeds Van Persie inside and he scoops the ball on target, but pressure from Boyce and a good save from Kirkland deny Arsenal a second.
    • 41' Sagna gets a crucial toe in as Diame primes to shoot! Wigan manage to breach the Arsenal back four as Gomez lays Diame on, but he takes a touch instead of hitting a first-time shot and that allows Sagna to get in. Arsenal defend the corner...
    • 37' GOOD SAVE FROM MANNONE! The corner finds Boyce at the far post but his header is met by a smart reaction stop from the Arsenal keeper. Gallas then hooks the ball away with an overhead kick, there's a scramble inside the Gunners' area before Rodallega eventually shoots wide from 20 yards...
    • 34' Nice from Arsenal! Van Persie finds Eboue on the overlap on the right, inside the Wigan area. He takes it on and tries to beat Kirkland on the angle but curls the ball across the face of goal and away with his right foot.
    • 25' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Vermaelen hammers in a header from the corner as he catches Wigan's defence static. Great finish, and it's 1-0 to Arsenal.
    • 21' CLOSE FOR ARSENAL! Gallas with a perfectly-placed through ball for Eboue down the inside right channel. He squares it inside the area for Van Persie, but the Dutchman mis-times his shot - with the ball just behind him as well - and bundles it wide. Wigan carved open there...
    • 20' Eboue's just over with a shot from the edge of the area as he fires with his second touch. Eduardo knocked it down for him, and he was only just off target.
    • 17' And Van Persie curls his effort just a foot or so wide of Kirkland's right-hand post...
    • 13' Figueroa puts in an important block on Van Persie who spins and toes a shot inside Wigan's area. Problems at the corner as Kirkland loses the looping ball in the sun and Bramble has to hook off the line!
    • 10' Timely challenge from Gallas on N'Zogbia as Mannone's indecision and poor clearance gives Wigan a sniff of a chance. That could've been costly for the hosts...
    • - Wigan line-up as expected. WIGAN: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Thomas, Diame, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Koumas, Rodallega. SUBS: Pollitt, Edman, Cho, Scharner, Scotland, Sinclair, King.
    • - TEAM NEWS is in. We'll start with Arsenal, who continue with Mannone in goal in the absence of Almunia, but Rosicky does not start and is on the substitutes' bench. Eduardo and Van Persie lead the line, with Bendtner on the bench. ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue, Song Billong, Fabregas, Diaby, Eduardo, Van Persie. SUBS: Szczesny, Rosicky, Ramsey, Silvestre, Wilshere, Gibbs, Bendtner.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Arsenal

    Manager: Arsène Wenger

    Captain: Cesc Fábregas

    Starting line-up

    • V. Mannone
    • B. Sagna
    • W. Gallas
    • T. Vermaelen Goals×2
    • G. Clichy
    • A. Song Yellow Card
    • C. Fábregas Goal
    • E. Eboué Yellow Card Substitution Out (74′)
    • A. Diaby Substitution Out (66′)
    • E. da Silva Goal Substitution Out (73′)
    • R. van Persie

    Subs

    • T. Rosický Substitution In74′
    • M. Silvestre
    • N. Bendtner Substitution In73′
    • K. Gibbs
    • A. Ramsey Substitution In66′
    • J. Wilshere
    • W. Szczesny

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Wigan Athletic

    Manager: Roberto Martinez

    Captain: Mario Melchiot

    Starting line-up

    • C. Kirkland
    • M. Melchiot
    • E. Boyce
    • T. Bramble
    • M. Figueroa
    • M. Diamé
    • C. N'Zogbia
    • H. Thomas
    • J. Gómez Yellow Card Substitution Out (57′)
    • J. Koumas Substitution Out (57′)
    • H. Rodallega Substitution Out (87′)

    Subs

    • M. King
    • P. Scharner Substitution In57′ Yellow Card
    • E. Edman
    • S. Sinclair Substitution In87′
    • M. Pollitt
    • J. Scotland Substitution In57′
    • W. Cho

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Comment 263 - 282 of 282

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Gunners u rule

    From edikan, on Mon 21 Sep 21:05

  2. Good game.
    Wigan needed a good thrashing, they were­ getting a bit overconfident. :D
    I just wish we could­ have done the same to Man U. :(

    From Laleh, on Mon 21 Sep 15:29

  3. Philip B.... we also have a game on hand! Come­ Christmas Spurs, or anyone else for that matter,above­ us would be very distant memory. Arsenal RULE!

    From mpumedanisa, on Mon 21 Sep 7:15

  4. that's the way to do it!!!! GO GUNNERS GO!!!!!A­ GOONER 4 LIFE !!!!!!

    From Vish, on Mon 21 Sep 0:24

  5. arsenal Rule,you lot dont stand a chaNCE.

    From , on Sun 20 Sep 22:02

  6. 292, Wilshere ain't good ebough to make the­ starting line-up yet, Arsenal's greatest Line-up­ would­ be:

    --------------------------------------------------­ ---------ALMUNIA---------------------------------------­ -----------------
    -----------SAGNA-------------------GA­ LLAS---------------------------VERMAELEN-------------CL­ ICHY-------
    ----------------------------ROSICKY--------­ ---------FABREGAS-----------------NASRI----------------­ ------------
    ----------VAN­ PERSIE-------------------------------EDUARDO-----------­ ----------------ARSHAVIN-------------
    RVP is better out­ wide and Eduardo's better in the middle.
    Subs:­ Walcott, Bendter, Diaby, Eboue, Song, Denilson, Vela,­ Gibbs, Senderos, Fabianski.
    PS: Where has Senderos been­ this season, he is heaps good!

    From andrewgunners4life, on Sun 20 Sep 19:10

  7. lol. Wigan kids buried at the emirates stadium! Nice­ funeral!

    From Mugais, on Sun 20 Sep 16:27

  8. vermaelen is having a great season so far with arsenal

    From nolan.murphey, on Sun 20 Sep 11:14

  9. Well done Arsenal :) GUNNERS 4EVER!!!

    From Aydin, on Sun 20 Sep 9:08

  10. wen people say rubbish about arsenal...i just wonder if­ they'v got work to do...non- sence comments­ always.dont b suprised if u come out wit an heart­ attack...ur only good in making abuses y not prove ur­ pove ur points and stop killing urselves...support ur­ teams,dats if u gat any dat rendered all jobless

    From ksakinola2003, on Sun 20 Sep 2:52

  11. Philip B, its early days you wont even be there come­ may a s s h o l e

    From lubov, on Sun 20 Sep 2:38

  12. well done GUNNERS we still in it lets keep­ fighting.....................lol

    From gift, on Sun 20 Sep 2:06

  13. I was watching the match on sky, and it is beyond my­ comprehension that the stadium was so bloody quiet, no­ cheering, no celebrating whatsoever.
    I'm calling­ upon all Gunners to get behind our team, no matter what­ the others say in good as well as bad times.
    Gunner­ for ever

    From Hamid, on Sun 20 Sep 1:57

  14. eduardo is running with the ball in his own half, he­ trips over his feet and is asking 4 a penalty! arsene­ wenger is furious. ITS A WITCH HUNT!

    From Alex, on Sun 20 Sep 1:56

  15. eduardo scored! its a witch hunt!

    From Alex, on Sun 20 Sep 1:54

  16. that goal was from eduardo or eboue ??

    From jayes, on Sun 20 Sep 1:35
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    STILL 3 POINTS BEHIND THE SPURS! ha ha ha ha ha...

    From Philip B, on Sun 20 Sep 1:29
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bad smell on this blog,...what is it? Oh yes,­ Arsenal supporters armpits! Love the way some of you­ arsenoles gloat when you score four, but fail to­ remember you just conceded four! BLIND!

    From Philip B, on Sun 20 Sep 1:27

  19. Wenger has got to start playing Wilshere ahead of those­ water-carriers Song, Diaby, Ramsey and Dennisneilson!­ I'd be rightfully fuming if I were Jack! Wenger has­ also got to realise that 'Da Silva' (Eduardo to­ eveyone else!) is the first choice striker, not Van­ Persie (who can't score goals or dribble as well as­ Eduardo). Arsenal will be better when Rosicky gets­ fitter and back to his best and when Nasri can replace­ Eboue, Diaby or Song in midfield. But get Wilshere in­ Arsene, he's the best and most creative player you­ have!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    From Goatlips, on Sun 20 Sep 1:18

  20. I know we've had some bad days but which team­ does'nt I am a believer in wenger he is a very­ clever man. If not the best manager in the world­ he's very close to it. It might take some time for­ this team to gel but look at today we had some class­ players who are injured and still beat another prem­ team 4-0 we we're unlucky againts the manks but­ they were lucky and as for getting rid of ade thank­ god. COME ON YOU GUNNERS and show the critics we are­ the best and always will be no matter what anybody else­ says.GUNNER'S FOR EVER!!!!!

    From WEEMAN, on Sun 20 Sep 1:15
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