For the second week in a row, a top four side has underestimated the challenge of Wigan Athletic, and been taken aback by the result of this miscalculation, losing the game and missing out on valuable points. The Latics on the other hand are now revelling in another win, this time against Arsenal at the Emirates, having seen off the Champions, Manchester United in their last "giant-killing" game.
Wigan began the game faster than Ashley Young goes down in the penalty area, and clearly caught Arsenal off-guard, with two goals inside the first eight minutes.
Former Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo opened the scoring, finishing an impressive counter-attack in which Arsenal's Mikel Arteta pulled up with an injury, and just a minute late, the lead was astonishingly doubled, thanks to a clever piece of skill from Victor Moses on the left, who then crossed it in for Jordi Gomez to bundle home.
The goals left Arsene Wenger raging on the touchline at his players, who had clearly not prepared for such a viscous, and purposeful attack from the relegation battlers.
Once Arsenal did finally awake from their slumber, a cross met the head of Thomas Vermaelen, who powered the ball into the back of the net which Wigan 'keeper Ali Al-Habsi had no chance in saving.
However, despite Arsenal pressure for the remainder of the first half, Al-Habsi was able to keep the home side at bay with a number of superb saves to keep the Latics leading.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, the second half was even less productive, and Wigan managed to resiliently hold out for the all important win, even having a few chances to extend their lead, and manager Roberto Martinez was understandably delighted.
"I'm so so satisfied because that wasn't an accident. In eight days, to have to play Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal is such a big task, but today the manner that we coped physically and tactically everyone at Wigan Athletic should be very proud."
"The manner that we played and obviously we were a little bit disappointed at half-time because we couldn't keep the ball well enough. I thought we had to defend well on the counter-attack we were a real threat but we can play a lot better than that."
"But in the second half, to have that mentality of know-how in such a young group, to understand what's needed in different phases. We got one-on-ones with the keeper, we had another chance and we coped with an outstanding footballing side and that is the truth."The win for Wigan pulls them five points clear of the drop-zone in 16th place, and seemed to have picked up form at a crucial stage of their season, whilst Arsenal remain in third place, but failed to extend their lead on Tottenham and Newcastle, who are both five points away with a game in hand.
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