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Wigan deliver crushing late blow to Arsenal

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Three goals in 11 minutes at the death saw Wigan overturn a two-goal deficit and beat Arsenal 3-2 in a thrilling Premier League clash at the DW Stadium. 

Arsenal appeared to be cruising to victory - and giving their title hopes a shot in the arm - after goals by Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre either side of half time had given them a 2-0 lead.

But Ben Watson started the Wigan fightback by pulling one back on 80 minutes before Titus Bramble levelled things up in the 90th minute following a calamitous Lukasz Fabianski error.

And Charles N'Zogbia then capped an incredible turnaround with the winner in the first minute of added time to shock the Gunners and give Wigan's survival hopes a huge boost. The Latics are now seven points clear of the drop zone with three games left.

Arsenal, so often the beneficiaries of late goals themselves, were left to wonder how they had let slip a two-goal lead which had looked like keeping alive their slim title hopes. Instead of closing the gap on leaders Chelsea to three points, the Gunners are now six points behind with just nine points left to play for.

Wigan started well enough against their more illustrious opponents and Charles N'Zogbia nearly gave the hosts an early lead when he sidefooted the wrong side of the upright on 11 minutes.

Yet Arsenal, even without the injured Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie who started on the bench, still had enough quality in their side to keep Wigan's strikeforce at arm's length while fashioning by far the better chances at the other end.

Abou Diaby played one pass too many when he should have opted to shoot on 12 minutes before Nicklas Bendtner brought Chris Kirkland into action for the first time with a neat volley.

Much of Arsenal's best attacking play came down the right hand side, where Walcott again thrilled and frustrated in equal measures.

The 21-year-old was slow to start, but he sprang into life just after the half-hour mark, racing onto Diaby's excellent through pass; but, like his midfield colleague earlier, he chose to pass the ball inside instead of going for goal himself and the chance went begging.

Perhaps sensing Gunners' fans frustrations at their side's apparent reluctance to shoot, Tomas Rosicky let fly three minutes later, forcing a sharp save from Kirkland.

And the next time Walcott found himself in a shooting position, when Bendtner found his run with a precise through pass on 41 minutes, he made the right decision and was rewarded with the opener.

The goal filled Walcott with confidence and just three minutes later he beat his man with ease before flashing a shot just wide of the far post.

The second half started with a bang as incidents at both ends within minutes of each other appeared to have effectively decided the outcome of the game.

Soon after the restart, Wigan had a big penalty shout turned down after Samir Nasri appeared to tug on Watson's arm in the box. The Wigan midfielder was more than willing to go down yet referee Lee Mason was unconvinced and waved play on.

Arsenal broke to the other end where Abou Diaby was denied by a fantastic save by Kirkland. But from the resulting corner, Silvestre was left all alone to pick his spot with a well-placed header and Arsenal took a two-goal lead.

Wigan nearly pulled one back immediately after a neat one-two with Watson saw N'Zogbia run clean through on goal but his sidefooter lacked guile and Fabianski, who had telegraphed it, made the save.

Wigan continued to press as the second period wore on, but increasingly it seemed they were going to be frustrated in their efforts.

All that changed in the 80th minute, however, when Victor Moses pulled the ball back to Watson, who sidefooted home from around the penalty spot to give Wigan hope of getting something from the game.

The goal sparked a desperate final 10 minutes of normal time as the Latics pushed forward in numbers and Arsenal increasingly sat back, looking to defend their lead.

Nasri was called into action to clear off the line from Watson before an inexplicable error from Fabianski gifted the equaliser to Bramble. The Polish keeper simply dropped a corner onto the defender's head, leaving Bramble with very little to do.

The Wigan fans' were already celebrating wildly at having seemingly rescued a point, but they were to get even more raucous a minute later when N'Zogbia cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable drive past Fabianski to claim a most dramatic victory - and quite possible maintain Wigan's Premier League status for another season.

Mike Hytner
Written by: administrator Sunday, 18 April 2010 19:37
 

Comments  

 
+3 # Malo 2010-04-18 19:55
Unbelievable. Simply. Not. Good. Enough.
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+1 # john 2010-04-18 20:03
as a player in a team its ur job to play ur part in helping ur team achieve its aim,ie, victory. Correct. As a manager its ur job 2 oversee ur team achieve this, if something is happenin 2 the contrary, as manager u apply the needed changes/response to counteract what ur faced with. None of this happened 2day, yes plyers are 2 blame, but ultimately its the managers responsibilty, players dont sub themselves if there not playing well, thats the bosses job, well 2day neither done there job, and as far as im concerned the buck 4 today stops with wenger. Action was needed, none taken, now look at us. A complete laughing stock. Db10 stick that in yer pipe. Its FACT.
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0 # db10 2010-04-18 21:07
i'm not disputing that we were shit. I'm just saying that after 75 minutes of that match no one could have guessed that Wigan would score 1 let alone 3. They looked completely rubbish. Yes its partly wengers fault that the players aren't committed enough but i don't think its fair to say that we lost because he didn't take action at 2-0.

we weren't playing well but we were two nil up and wigan barely threatened up till a minute before they scored. at 75 minutes did you honestly predict that we would not win? thats why the criticism that he should have changed it after 70 minutes is unfair.
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+6 # Malo 2010-04-18 20:19
I'm afraid I have to agree with John. I am a huge believer in Wenger, but his great experiment has failed. 'Judge him in May' indeed.
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+1 # john 2010-04-18 20:36
cheers malo. Its not somethin that gives me pleasure in sayin, but it needs said if its wat u feel. How may chances hae we been givin 2 get back in it, n how many av we taken. Yes we hav dun wel to haul ourselves into it on occassion, but when we needed 2 grit our teeth, dig deep, and go that xtra yard we hav failed, miserably. Short of players yes, but based on 2day n this was the day it blew up, van persie shudc av been on after 70 mins @ 2 up, that was an unbelievable cock up, one that may have more consequences than losin any faint chances of the league.
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0 # DD 2010-04-18 21:05
The woolwich ferry is leaving in 10 minutes.
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+4 # Arse&Nose 2010-04-18 21:21
Diaby looked atrocious today, he gave the ball away more than 20 times in the 1st half, I gave up counting.

Nasri was invisible as usual, at least Theo tries hard! The team carried far too many passengers today.
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+2 # SteveG 2010-04-18 21:21
What a squad, everyone standing around wondering who's turn it is to play defense.
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+2 # frimpong 2010-04-18 22:58
Wigan showed desire, commitment, steel, guile and above all pride.

Ashburton?

We have a problem....

Denilson, Diaby, Almunia, Fabianski, Silvestre, Merida, Eduardo, Traore, Vela. Tools in van and jog on..

Bentner. Knocks his pipe out but he's never world class.

Theo needs to play at centre forward off RVP as his consistant 'crossing to no-one' exposes his lack of natural football brains.

And, please Mr Wenger, just put your hands up and buy a goalie worth 10 points a season. We have enough trouble winning without the clown show...
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0 # arvind 2010-04-19 02:41
the problem is that arsene does not stick it to his players like other top rated coaches. I agree that he actually hurts his players developing by worrying about stunting their growth etc etc… he needs to give them a good thrashing and the threat of losing their place in the team altogether. The philosophy must change. Defense must be a priority. Credit Rosicky for running his injured butt off today.. also Nasri..the guy needs to get tough…his facial expressions are one of fear and confusion. He had no ideas against the spurs and today he didnt do much better…ditto with Diaby. I like Both players.. i love when they are on their game but it is this mentality of not busting their lungs out there that is hurting arsenal. All I have to say is look at 35 year old Sol… this guy was running his socks off…he knows what it like to win at arsenal and what it takes. I knew that off loading all our veterans years ago would lead to this.. there needs to be a good mix of young and old. the entire youth experiement and excuse is over. these primadonnas have had enough time together to take out a low level team like wigan.

defense, mature signings, and accountability of the manager and poor performing players is what is needed
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+1 # M.E. 2010-04-19 02:53
IMO, first person @ Arsenal to face the chop ought to be ... our first team coach, Boro Primorac.

What sort of defensive training have our players been getting all these while?

If this article here is true: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=742102&cc=4716

and Primorac being the 2nd voice of our backroom coaching staff after Arsene; him being involved in the transfer/signings of players as much as Arsene and our chief scout, Steve Rowley; him giving touchlines opinions during matches to Arsene;

Arsene listening to Primorac more than our assistant manager, Pat Rice, in team tactical matters; listening to Primorac more than Steve Rowley in our transfer/signings matter; listening to Primorac more than Ivan Gazadis in our player contract/agent negotiations --> Then Primorac should be facing the same amount of criticism from Arsenal fans, media and community alike with Arsene himself, the players and team.
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0 # Ehibaba 2010-04-19 10:47
Are the coaching crew of our great team that daft? how come this defenseless style of play is left uncorrected? The truth is that we lost the season the moment AW failed to buy during the transfer window in January.It still beats my imagination how a coach will refuse to replace his best stricker when it was obvious he wont be playing in 6months . We have thrown away the easiest opportunity to win the leaque with the off form of chelsea and manu this season. As for next season, manu will buy, same as cheski,man city amd others.I wonder how far our new signings(if wenger buys) will take us. In God we trust.
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