ARSENAL 3 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0
By Ricky Butler at The Emirates
A first Arsenal hat-trick from Robin van Persie was more then enough to seal this comfortable victory at the Emirates for Arseanl on Saturday over a poor Wigan side as the Gunners put their cup distractions to one side to keep their Premier League title push on track.
Arsene Wenger made four changes from the side that had won at Leeds in midweek, with captain Cesc Fabregas back in the starting XI along with Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and van Persie; Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh all dropped down to the bench.
As expected the hosts started quickly and chances came and went in the opening 20 minutes as Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Walcott were all denied by a combination goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and some desperate Wigan defending.
But the goal the Gunners had been threatening duly arrived in the 21st minute. Alex Song split the Latics back line with a slide-rule pass for van Persie in the inside left channel and he beat the offside trap before drilling clinically past Al Habsi from eight yards.
The one sided nature of the contest continued before the break with only the agility of Al Habsi keeping the visitors in it. Twice he was alert to deny Fabregas before tipping a rasping drive from Nasri over the bar. Meanwhile Walcott fired into the side netting as the wave of red and white attacks continued unabated.
But at only 1-0 Wigan always had a chance and Roberto Martinez made two changes at the break - bringing on James McArthur and Franco Di Santos in place of the disappointing Ronnie Stam and Mohamed Diame - and his side responded with a brighter start to the second period.
However it was not long before the Gunners regained their earlier fluency and they doubled their advantage just prior to the hour mark.
Song was fouled by Ben Watson just inside his own half and took a quick free kick to Fabregas. The Spaniard looked up before firing a 40 yard ball over the top of Gary Caldwell for van Persie to crash a powerful left footed shot past Al Habsi from six yards.
Having never previously scored a hat-trick in his professional career, the Dutchman was then presented with a golden opportunity to do just that ten minutes later. Caldwell brought down Fabregas inside the penalty area and, having given the spot kick, referee Kevin Friend had no alternative other then to send the Wigan captain off. But van Persie blasted the kick high over the crossbar.
It looked like that elusive treble was going to elude the Dutchman when he fired a shot against the outside of Al Habsi's right hand post with fifteen minutes remaining, but the sight of Chamakh stripped and waiting to replace him finally saw his luck change.
Again Fabregas was involved with a lovely ball over the top to Walcott and the England winger held off Steven Gohouri just long enough for van Persie to beat the Wigan keeper at the near post - his 6th goal in the last three matches.
Wenger was delighted with the Dutchman. He said: "Robin has been out for a long time but is now coming back to full sharpness and he is a good finisher.
"We had a good game with some outstanding football today but the most pleasing thing was that we were mature, knew when to put the pace up and when to calm the game down."
So while the jury is still out on whether this Arsenal team can actually win the Premier League this season, there is a growing belief within the club that the five year wait for silverware is about to be over.
With a Carling Cup semi final second leg against Ipswich to come on Tuesday night, and the FA Cup 4th round tie at home to Huddersfield Town next weekend, they certainly have a back up plan in place should Manchester United prove a bridge to far in the league.
ARSENAL - Szczhesny 7, Sagna 8, Djourou 7, Koscielny 7, Clichy 7, Song 8, FABREGAS 9 (Denilson 86mins 6), Wilshere 8, Walcott 8, van Persie 9 (Chamakh 86mins 6), Nasri 7 (Arshavin 75mins 6).
WIGAN - Al Habsi 8, Gohouri 7, Caldwell (G) 5, Caldwell (S) 6, Stam 4 (McArthur 46mins 7), Figueroa 4, Thomas 6, Watson 5, N'Zogbia 5 (Boyce 78mins 6), Diame 4 (Di Santos 46mins 6), Rodellega 4.
REFEREE; Kevin Friend 7
ATTENDANCE; 59,552
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