WIGAN ATHLETIC 2 ARSENAL 2
by Ricky Butler from the DW Stadium
Arsenal blew the chance to go level on points with both Manchester clubs at the top of the table as a late own goal from French defender Sebastien Squillaci gave ten man Wigan a surprise point from a thrilling encounter at the DW Stadium last night.
With the Gunners seemingly in control thanks to fine strikes from Andrey Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner just before the break, the hosts found themselves reduced to ten men when Charles N'Zogbia head-butted Jack Wilshere in an off-the-ball incident twelve minutes from time.
That appeared to have put the seal on an important win for Wenger's side but they almost immediately switched off from a Ben Watson corner and Squillaci headed the ball into his own net in a desperate attempt to stop Gary Caldwell scoring.
Wenger had made eight changes from the side that had beaten Chelsea in such impressive style just two nights earlier and it led to a disjointed opening from his side. Hugo Rodellega should have give the hosts an early lead following an inviting left wing cross from Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley but the Honduran was unable to get his head to the ball when any contact would surely have been enough to beat Lukasz Fabianski.
But slowly the Gunners settled into their passing rhythm and Arshavin fired over from 10 yards after stand-in skipper Tomas Rosicky had picked him out with a fine cross-field pass, while the Russian then saw a volley blocked by home defender Ronnie Stam.
However it was the Latics who went in front in controversial fashion after seventeen minutes. Referee Lee Probert ruled that Laurent Koscienly had clipped the heels of N'Zogbia just inside the area and pointed to the spot, although the Arsenal defender appeared to have pulled out of the challenge at the last minute. But Watson was unconcerned about the legitimacy of the award and coolly drilled the kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to leave Arsenal with it all to do.
But they responded in the manner of a side who believe they can win the title. Despite having to reorganise when Abu Diaby limped off inside half an hour they showed their class with two goals of real quaility before the break. Arshavin, who had seen very little go right for him until then, scored with a spectacular scissors kick after Wigan keeper Ali El Habsi had pushed out a shot from Bendtner, while the Dane then slotted home with half time approaching after great build up play from the rejuvenated little Russian.
Arsenal looked in total control for much of the second period and they should have sealed the points twenty minutes from time. A lovely move ended with substitute Wilshere putting Arshavin clear inside the Wigan penalty area with a beautiful clipped pass but the Russian's left footed finish was weak and El Habsi was able to block.
It looked to be a crucial miss when N'Zogbia burst into the Gunners area five minutes later but Fabianski stood firm to deny him while Squillaci then cleared the lose ball off the goalline. However N'Zogbia then showed the other side of his game with a needless butt on Wilshere, after the two had clashed near the halfway line, and the hosts had to try to get back in the game with a one man disadvantage.
But just two minutes later they did just that. Rodellega headed a corner from Watson back across the face of the goal and Squillaci got the final touch ahead of Caldwell to send the DW wild.
Wenger immediately threw on Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott in a desperate attempt to rescue the situation and it almost paid off in the closing stages. Bendtner was brought down on the edge of the area by Antolin Alcaraz and Nasri's free kick appeared to be deflected behind by the raised arm of Watson. However Probert was unimpressed and merely awarded a corner meaning the Gunners had to settle for just a point when they know they should have left with all three.
Wenger was far from happy at the end. 'We were 2-1 up playing against ten men and we dropped two points. Overall, it was a difficult game with high levels of commitment from Wigan. They caught us a bit at the start but after that we came back into it a little bit. In the second half we didn’t do enough and we conceded two goals from two set pieces.' he said.
When asked about the eight team changes he responded by saying 'We had a disadvantage that Wigan played three days ago and only 48 hours ago we played a big game in the evening. I had to change it because we play on Saturday and again on Wednesday so we can't always play with the same team. But I don’t think that was a problem at all.'
It was a case of deja-vu for the Frenchman after he had seen his side's title challenge come to end here in April when they threw away a two goal lead in the last ten minutes. Whether this will prove quiet as fatal remains to be seen but unless the Gunners can learn to defend set pieces with more conviction the ultimate prize may well escape them again.
WIGAN ATHLETIC; El Habsi 8, Stam 7 (Figeroua 75mins 6), Caldwell 7, Alcaraz 6, Gohouri 7, Cleverley 8, Diame 6 (McArthur 73mins 7), Watson 8, Thomas 7, Rodellega 7, N'Zogbia 8.
ARSENAL; Fabianski 7, Sagna 7, Koscielny 5, Squillaci 6, Eboue 7, Diaby 7 (Wilshere 27mins 7) (Walcott 83mns 6), Denilson 6, Rosicky 7, Bendtner 7, Chamakh 6, Arshavin 6 (Nasri 83mins 7).
Referee; Lee Probert 7.
Attendance; 17,014.
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