Saturday January 22, 2011 Day 24 Finished Emirates Stadium

Arsenal 3 - 0 Wigan Athletic

  • van Persie 22’, 58’, 85’

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  1. Van Persie treble sinks Wigan

    Van Persie treble sinks Wigan

    Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal went second in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • Wigan Athletic
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+3' FULL-TIME Robin van Persie scores a hat-trick as Arsenal go second in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.
    • 90+1' Walcott forces Arsenal’s eighth corner.
    • 90' Three minutes of added time.
    • 89' David Beckham has left the building!
    • 88' Walcott smashes a shot from the right high into the crowd.
    • 87' Wigan face a battle for survival this season - their only victory in the last nine was 2-1 at Wolves on Boxing Day.
    • 86' And Denilson is on for Fabregas.
    • 85' Van Persie leaves to a standing ovation and is replaced by Marouane Chamakh.
    • 84' GOAL ARSENAL!! Van Persie does get his hat-trick as Wigan are caught square again. Walcott holds off Figueroa and the Dutch striker sweeps the ball into the net from close range.
    • 83' Interestingly Arsenal are the only club who are yet to concede a Premier League goal in 2011.
    • 82' Song drives wide from 20 yards.
    • 81' Arsenal have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since a four-match streak in February 2009. They must stay alert if they are to match that run.
    • 80' Di Santo is perilously close to latching onto a through ball in the penalty area.
    • 79' That smacks of damage limitation from Martinez as he brings on a defender for his most creative player.
    • 78' Final change for Wigan as N’Zogbia is replaced by Emmerson Boyce.
    • 77' Cries of shoot from the crowd every time Song gets the ball in a threatening area but the midfielder slips in the box.
    • 76' Having said that Arshavin has provided nine Premier League assists this season – equal-most in the division with Manchester United’s Nani.
    • 75' Arshavin has scored in each of his two league appearances against Wigan but is not in great form and had a bit of a shocker up at Leeds in midweek.
    • 74' Andrey Arshavin replaces Nasri.
    • 73' Van Persie is still looking for that treble, he cuts inside on to his favoured left-foot and his curling effort hits the outside of the post.
    • 72' Another Di Santo header on goal after a Figueroa cross but Szczesny, who is yet to be tested today, can watch it sail past the post.
    • 71' MISSED PENALTY! And van Persie squanders the chance of a first league hat-trick by lifting his shot high over the crossbar.
    • 70' PENALTY AND RED CARD! Gary Caldwell is dismissed for bringing down Fabregas when he was clean through on Al Habsi. A superbly weighted pass from Song left the Wigan defence static once again.
    • 69' Circus stuff from Fabregas who juggles the ball on the edge of the penalty area, hits the ground under a challenge and then performs an overhead kick whilst sitting on his backside. The effort goes wide.
    • 68' Van Persie celebrates scoring the opening goal. Match Image
    • 67' Sliding challenge from Thomas who is cautioned for showing his studs in the tackle with Sagna.
    • 66' Wilshere tricks McArthur in midfield and surges past Thomas but screws his effort wide.
    • 65' An effort on goal for Wigan! It took until the 65th minute but Di Santo powers a header wide after a long diagonal ball from Figueroa.
    • 64' Gary Caldwell and Fabregas square up after a late challenge by the Gunners skipper. Referee Friend calls them together, a handshake and on with the game.
    • 63' Interestingly van Persie has never scored a league hat-trick during his career in either England or Hollland.
    • 62' Arsenal have now scored 11 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second-half in the Premier League, more than any other club.
    • 61' This time Sagna’s cross is cleared by Gohouri.
    • 60' Sagna’s cross is behind the posse of red shirts in the penalty area and Watson has time to run the ball clear.
    • 59' Arsenal have won 24 of their last 25 home matches in the League when they have been leading at half time. Hard to see anything other than three points here.
    • 58' GOAL ARSENAL!! Fabregas’ quick free-kick over the top catches Wigan napping and van Persie volleys home a superb second.
    • 57' Walcott has scored six Premier League goals this season – the most by an Englishman for the club in a season since Ray Parlour in 1998-99. If he scores today it will be the most since Ian Wright (10) in 1997-98.
    • 56' Superbly weighted pass from Fabregas through to Walcott but the angle is tight and he skews his effort wide.
    • 55' Djourou is holding his shoulder and Arsenal are lacking depth at centre-half. If he is forced off Song would have to drop into the back four.
    • 54' Walcott’s low cross is claimed by the stooping Al Habsi.
    • 53' More like the Arsenal from the first-half as the marauding Clichy finds Wilshere who in turns tees up Nasri whose shot from 18 yards is deflected behind for a corner.
    • 52' Wigan only have scored eight Premier League away goals, the fewest in the division.
    • 51' Gohouri’s ball across the face of the penalty area is cut out by Laurent Koscielny.
    • 50' At last some attacking intent from Wigan who have sacrificed one of their holding midfielders and have had the ball longer in the Arsenal half in the opening five minutes of the second-half than they probably did for the entire first 45 minutes.
    • 49' Watson’s ball over the top intended for Rodallega is claimed by Wojciech Szczesny who comes off his line confidently.
    • 48' Was that a shot or a cross? McArthur curls a ball high over the crossbar from 35 yards.
    • 47' Walcott gets to the by-line but can only hook the ball back into the arms of Al Habsi.
    • 46' A double change for Wigan at the start of the second-half with James McArthur and Franco Di Santo replacing Diame and Stam.
    • 45+1' HALF-TIME! Arsenal lead 1-0 but it could have been so much more. 13 goal attempts to zero in their favour and only Ali Al Habsi has prevented a cricket score.
    • 45' The free-kick is headed clear by Wigan as we go into injury time.
    • 44' Fabregas calling for a card after being fouled by Hendry Thomas who gets a warning from referee Friend.
    • 43' Rodallega vies with Arsenal's Cameroon midfielder Song. Match Image
    • 42' Wigan have conceded 13 goals on their five previous Premier League visits to Arsenal, they look ripe for a hammering today. As one-sided a game as you will ever see.
    • 41' Nasri goes for placement from the left channel after Watson loses out in midfield and yes you guessed it Al Habsi is down to make the save. Pretty routine that one, the French star got no real purchase on his effort.
    • 40' Great work from Song who finds Nasri but his square ball across the face of the penalty area is blocked by the sliding Gary Caldwell.
    • 39' The corner finds its’ way to Song at the back post who squares to Fabregas, who creates space in the penalty area only to see Al Habsi foil him again with another sharp save.
    • 38' Nasri sees a shot tipped over the top by the overworked Al Habsi.
    • 37' The goal attempts count is 10-0 in Arsenal’s favour.
    • 36' What was that Chris Waddle said about Walcott’s ‘footballing brain’? Mr Wenger looked less than impressed.
    • 35' Golden chance squandered by Walcott. A through ball shreds open the Wigan defence and faced with a 1-1 with Al Habsi, he opts to try and square to Fabregas who is denied by a sliding challenge.
    • 34' But headed clear by Johan Djourou.
    • 33' Charles N'Zogbia wins Wigan's first corner.
    • 32' Great skill from Fabregas who nutmegs Steve Caldwell in the penalty area only to see his shot smothered.
    • 31' Al Habsi saves Wigan once more. Sagna’s cross is laid back into Fabregas‘s path by Nasri but the away keeper beats away the shot.
    • 30' In total Wigan have won just one and lost eight of their 11 Premier League games against Arsenal. That victory was 3-2 at the DW Stadium last season. Arsenal were 2-0 up with ten minutes left before Ben Watson (80), Titus Bramble (89) and Charles N’Zogbia (90) scored.
    • 29' Mohamed Diame has been chasing shadows in the middle of the park and is penalised for a foul on Fabregas.
    • 28' That goal was van Persie's first at the Emirates Stadium this season. The club have won their last five League home matches when he has scored – since a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in December 2008.
    • 27' Al Habsi fumbles van Persie’s square ball after a mix-up with Steve Caldwell but claims at the second attempt.
    • 26' Fabregas is flagged offside after a long ball over the top from Song but he looks level with the Wigan backline static once more.
    • 25' A deep free-kick into the penalty area is headed clear by Steve Gohouri under pressure.
    • 24' Arsenal have dropped five points from winning positions in their last two Premier League games against Wigan but they need to offer more going forward if they are to improve that stat.
    • 23' Fabregas and Nasri look to play a 1-2 in the penalty area but the ball is hacked clear.
    • 22' Steve Caldwell had his hand up for offside but van Persie was level with the left-back Figueroa.
    • 21' GOAL ARSENAL! Song threads the ball through to Robin van Persie and the in-form Dutch striker slams the ball past the advancing Al Habsi from 10 yards.
    • 20' No title-winning side has dropped more than 10 points at home in a whole season since Arsenal in 2001-02. The Gunners have dropped 11 already at the Emirates.
    • 19' Ronnie Stam, normally a full-back, is playing in an advanced role on the left side of midfield but is unable to latch on to a long ball. Not even a hint of an effort on goal from Wigan.
    • 18' Walcott’s low free-kick is gathered comfortably by Al Habsi.
    • 17' Caldwell upends Fabregas on the left edge of the penalty area.
    • 16' A surging run from Walcott down the right and he pulls back to Fabregas who is denied from eight yards by a wonderful block from Gary Caldwell with the shot looping off the skipper and over the crossbar.
    • 15' Arsenal have won all eight home matches in all competitions against Wigan and you can see why on the basis of the opening 15 minutes. Pretty much one-way traffic.
    • 14' Bacary Sagna gets past Ben Watson but Figueroa comes across to cover.
    • 13' Walcott protests to the assistant after being adjudged to have fouled Maynor Figueroa in the corner.
    • 12' Arsenal’s starting line up has an average age of 23 years and 318 days old – the second youngest of any club in the division this season.
    • 11' Nasri’s free-kick is straight into the blue wall.
    • 10' Cesc Fabregas goes down on the edge of the area after the slightest of tugs from Gary Caldwell. A dangerous position and Wigan are not happy.
    • 9' Wigan opened up again but Alex Song’s final ball is wasteful.
    • 8' Wonderful move from Arsenal and a wonderful save from Al Habsi. A diagonal ball from Gael Clichy finds Waclott who squares to Robin van Persie but the Omani custodian manages to push the shot around the post from eight yards.
    • 7' The Latics have failed to score in their last five matches at the Emirates and as you can see from the formation below that they don’t have much in the way of support for lone frontman Hugo Rodallega.
    • 6' The Caldwell brothers are at the heart of the Wigan defence today and skipper Gary comes across to make a strong challenge to stop Nasri latching onto a dangerous through ball.
    • 5' And Arsenal force a corner which is cleared by the visitors before another offside flag.
    • 4' Ali Al Habsi Is forced to get down sharply to his right to deny a fierce shot from Samir Nasri.
    • 3' An interested spectator today – David Beckham!
    • 2' Slick early passing move from the Gunners but Theo Walcott strays offside.
    • 1' And we are underway!
    • 14:55 Today’s referee is Kevin Friend from Leicestershire as the teams prepare to come out on a cold day in North London.
    • 14:50 Wigan are still without out Victor Moses and James McCarthy who are back in training and could now return for next weekend's FA Cup clash with Bolton. Franco Di Santo made a substitute appearance against Fulham last weekend after an ankle injury and is on the bench at the Emirates. Chris Kirkland was unavailable for the Fulham game after a head injury and is again not in the Matchday party while Tom Cleverley (hamstring) is also out.
    • 14:45 Wenger has no fresh injury problems. Goalkeepers Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) and Manuel Almunia (ankle) remain out, along with Abou Diaby (calf) and Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring), while centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is set for a six-week rehabilitation after a minor procedure on his Achilles. Striker Marouane Chamakh (knee) and midfielder Denilson (hip) have recovered from minor knocks after midweek but are on the bench. England midfielder Jack Wilshere returns after being rested.
    • 14:40 Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United could emulate his 'Invincibles' of seven seasons ago by completing a Premier League season unbeaten. Wenger said: "Do you ask me can they still do it? Certainly, because they have not been beaten yet. Have they been a bit lucky until now? Certainly, but we'll see. I don't know more than you. What is important is to beat Man United and we will only have the chance, with the run that they are on, if we do exceptionally well until the end of the season."
    • 14:35 Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes Arsenal are "reaching their peak". The Spaniard was in the crowd at Elland Road and he feels he has seen signs that Arsene Wenger`s men are preparing to hit top form. He said: "They are very young players but technically very gifted, they know how to play, the manner that they always play, and whoever plays, you've got fresh legs and fresh ideas. They have a clear identity and philosophy to win football games, which makes them very, very attractive."
    • 14:30 Andrey Arshavin has been dropped to the bench but hopes Arsenal will secure a "landslide" victory over relegation battlers Wigan to keep their title push on track. The Gunners continued the momentum from last weekend's 3-0 trashing of bottom club West Ham with a convincing 3-1 FA Cup third-round replay win at Leeds on Wednesday night. Arshavin quotes
    • 14:25 TEAMS: Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie. Subs: Shea, Denilson, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner /// Wigan: Al Habsi, Gohouri, Gary Caldwell, Steven Caldwell, Figueroa, Thomas, Diame, Stam, Watson, N'Zogbia, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, McCarthy, Di Santo, Gomez, McArthur, Boyce, McManaman
    • 14:20 A win for the Gunners and anything less than a victory for Manchester United in their match against Birmingham City would see Arsene Wenger’s men go top of the table.
    • 14:15 Welcome to coverage of the Premier League game between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 84' GOAL ARSENAL!! Van Persie does get his hat-trick as Wigan are caught square again. Walcott holds off Figueroa and the Dutch striker sweeps the ball into the net from close range.
    • 73' Van Persie is still looking for that treble, he cuts inside on to his favoured left-foot and his curling effort hits the outside of the post.
    • 71' MISSED PENALTY! And van Persie squanders the chance of a first league hat-trick by lifting his shot high over the crossbar.
    • 70' PENALTY AND RED CARD! Gary Caldwell is dismissed for bringing down Fabregas when he was clean through on Al Habsi. A superbly weighted pass from Song left the Wigan defence static once again.
    • 58' GOAL ARSENAL!! Fabregas’ quick free-kick over the top catches Wigan napping and van Persie volleys home a superb second.
    • 41' Nasri goes for placement from the left channel after Watson loses out in midfield and yes you guessed it Al Habsi is down to make the save. Pretty routine that one, the French star got no real purchase on his effort.
    • 39' The corner finds its’ way to Song at the back post who squares to Fabregas, who creates space in the penalty area only to see Al Habsi foil him again with another sharp save.
    • 35' Golden chance squandered by Walcott. A through ball shreds open the Wigan defence and faced with a 1-1 with Al Habsi, he opts to try and square to Fabregas who is denied by a sliding challenge.
    • 32' Great skill from Fabregas who nutmegs Steve Caldwell in the penalty area only to see his shot smothered.
    • 31' Al Habsi saves Wigan once more. Sagna’s cross is laid back into Fabregas‘s path by Nasri but the away keeper beats away the shot.
    • 21' GOAL ARSENAL! Song threads the ball through to Robin van Persie and the in-form Dutch striker slams the ball past the advancing Al Habsi from 10 yards.
    • 16' A surging run from Walcott down the right and he pulls back to Fabregas who is denied from eight yards by a wonderful block from Gary Caldwell with the shot looping off the skipper and over the crossbar.
    • 8' Wonderful move from Arsenal and a wonderful save from Al Habsi. A diagonal ball from Gael Clichy finds Waclott who squares to Robin van Persie but the Omani custodian manages to push the shot around the post from eight yards.
    • 4' Ali Al Habsi Is forced to get down sharply to his right to deny a fierce shot from Samir Nasri.
    • 14:25 TEAMS: Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie. Subs: Shea, Denilson, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner /// Wigan: Al Habsi, Gohouri, Gary Caldwell, Steven Caldwell, Figueroa, Thomas, Diame, Stam, Watson, N'Zogbia, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, McCarthy, Di Santo, Gomez, McArthur, Boyce, McManaman

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • W. Szczesny
      • B. Sagna
      • J. Djourou
      • L. Koscielny
      • G. Clichy
      • A. Song
      • J. Wilshere
      • T. Walcott
      • C. Fábregas Substitution Out (87′)
      • S. Nasri Substitution Out (75′)
      • R. van Persie Goals×3 Substitution Out (86′)

      Subs

      • M. Chamakh Substitution In86′
      • A. Arshavin Substitution In75′
      • E. Eboué
      • N. Bendtner
      • K. Gibbs
      • Denílson Substitution In87′
      • J. Shea

    • Starting line-up

      • A. Al Habsi
      • S. Gohouri
      • G. Caldwell Red Card
      • S. Caldwell
      • M. Figueroa
      • H. Thomas Yellow Card
      • M. Diamé Substitution Out (45′)
      • C. N'Zogbia Substitution Out (78′)
      • B. Watson
      • R. Stam Substitution Out (45′)
      • H. Rodallega

      Subs

      • E. Boyce Substitution In78′
      • M. Pollitt
      • J. Gómez
      • J. McCarthy
      • J. McArthur Substitution In45′
      • C. McManaman
      • F. Di Santo Substitution In45′

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out87′ - -
      Substitution Out75′ - -
      Strikers
      Goals ×3 Substitution Out86′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In86′ - -
      Substitution In75′ - -
      Substitution In87′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Red Card - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card - -
      Substitution Out45′ - -
      Substitution Out78′ - -
      - -
      Substitution Out45′ - -
      Strikers
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ - -
      Substitution In45′ - -
      Substitution In45′ - -

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