Three goals in the final 11 minutes gave Wigan arguably
the most stunning victory in their Premier League history and
slammed the door shut on Arsenal's faint title hopes.
The Gunners appeared to be coasting to victory on the back of
goals either side of half-time from Theo Walcott and Mikael
Silvestre, and with it hauling themselves to within three points of
leaders Chelsea.
But after a run of eight defeats and a draw in the league
against Arsenal, Wigan added to their maiden wins over Chelsea and
Liverpool this season as Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and Charles
N'Zogbia conjured an astonishing comeback.
The remarkable result leaves Wigan seven points clear of the
drop zone and seemingly safe, whereas Arsenal can now kiss goodbye
to any hope they had of the title after back-to-back defeats in the
space of five days.
Tottenham's victory over leaders Chelsea yesterday had given the
visitors a glimmer of hope on the title front, but that has now
evaporated, and they have only themselves to blame for a late
collapse.
On target: Ben Watson scores the first of Wigan's
three goals at the DW Stadium
Gunning for the title: Walcott gave Arsenal the
lead at Wigan
For 40 minutes here they found themselves frustrated by
a Wigan side desperate for points in their battle to stay in the
top flight for a sixth successive season.
After being booed off the pitch on Wednesday following a
goalless draw against an already-relegated and understrength
Portsmouth side, Wigan were determined to restore the faith of
their fans.
There was certainly an urgency about Roberto Martinez's side,
but for 80 minutes they lacked a cutting edge.
Instead it was Arsenal who were in the ascendancy, initially in
the 41st minute as Nicklas Bendtner split covering defenders Maynor
Figueroa and Bramble with a through ball of pace and precision.
After riding Bramble's challenge and pulling away from Figueroa,
Walcott then slid the ball underneath the advancing Chris Kirkland
for his seventh goal of the season.
It was deserved as Walcott should have scored minutes prior to
that after Abou Diaby had released him in behind Wigan's
defence.
Although left with a one-on-one opportunity with Kirkland just
outside the six-yard box, he opted to try and find Bendtner with a
square ball, only to pull it behind him, allowing Wigan to
clear.
Walcott could, and perhaps should have given Arsenal a two-goal
cushion on the stroke of half time, only to narrowly clear the bar
with a rising drive from just inside the area.
Prior to Walcott's opener Wigan were lively, but barely troubled
Lukasz Fabianski, playing in his first league game since the end of
last season with Manuel Almunia out with a wrist injury.
N'Zogbia, rumoured to be a target for Wenger in the summer, was
narrowly wide with one curled effort, whilst a low, powerful
20-yard drive was straight at the Pole.
As a contest, it seemed to turn inside the opening three minutes
of the second half, initially after just 40 seconds as Wigan were
denied a penalty.
Referee Lee Mason, who had incurred the wrath of the Wigan fans
all afternoon with his decisions, infuriated the locals further by
turning a blind eye to Samir Nasri's pull on the arm of Watson.
Moments later, and from Arsenal's first attack of the half,
Kirkland superbly denied Diaby at close range, with the ball
eventually running for a corner.
Nasri proceeded to deliver an outswinger to which Wigan's
defence were guilty of falling asleep, allowing Silvestre an
unmarked header from the penalty spot beyond Kirkland's
outstretched grasp.
Starting for Thomas Vermaelen, who misses the end to the season
with a calf strain, it was Silvestre's first goal for a year since
a 4-1 win on this ground.
Wigan, though, did not roll over and die. N'Zogbia first curled
a tame effort that was easy pickings for Fabianski, on his 25th
birthday, after being played in by Watson.
Watson was then denied by Fabianski who was at full stretch to
prevent a low 20-yard shot from creeping inside his right-hand
post, whilst Hugo Rodallega saw his scuffed shot trickle inches
wide.
Then 10 minutes from time Watson hauled Wigan back into the game
with a sidefoot effort from 12 yards after substitute Victor Moses
had played the midfielder in from the bye-line. It was the catalyst
for the comeback, aided by a howler from Fabianski who fluffed an
N'Zogbia corner, allowing Bramble a free header which crossed the
line, despite Clichy's efforts to hook the ball clear.
Charles N'Zogbia fires Wigan's late winner against
Arsenal
Then in the first of four minutes of added time N'Zogbia struck
a curling winner from 20 yards to send the majority of the DW
Stadium into raptures, and leave Arsenal's followers sickened.
