The plan was simple- graft and respect. Stick to the blueprint of diligent work ethic and organized shape off the ball, so that the hard work would eventually pay off into scoring opportunities and consequently goals. The plan was simple, but the opposition was not. Wigan arrived at the Emirates with an attitude refreshing in its openness to attack and not mindlessly hoof the ball, and their fearless football paid fantastic dividends as they left the heart of North London with three well-earned points.
Team news
Arsenal stuck to the team sheet that had proved so successful against Man City and Wolves this past week; with Benayoun getting a start over Gervinho and Chamberlain on the left wing, and Djourou deputizing for the suspended Koscielny. Cuddly Brazilian maverick Andre Santos slotted in at left-back after Gibbs couldn’t shake off a groin strain in time. Robin van Persie spearheaded the attack as usual, looking to come out of a relatively barren run of one goal in five games.
Wigan were hit by the loss of Shaun Maloney, star player against Man United in midweek; but Jordi Gomes was an able replacement on his day. Victor Moses was set to go head-to-head against Sagna, something that many an attacker had tried and failed to do this season so far. That trend would be spectacularly bucked.
First half and double blow
When the match started, proceedings seemed to be par-for-the-course. Arsenal were seeing a lot of the ball, Vermaelen was engaging in forward forays and snapshots from range to get his radar working properly, and it seemed that Arsenal would soon get into their passing stride as the game progressed. But as an Arsenal corner was cleared, Wigan broke with controlled ferocity and unerring accuracy. Sagna was caught flat-footed as Moses found the ball at his feet with only Djourou between him and a clear pass. The pass was made; Di Santo rounded the keeper and slid it into the empty net. Shock lead, and Arsenal had to respond.
Their response was to go two behind. With Mikel Arteta feeling his ankle and going down the tunnel to receive treatment, Arsenal were temporarily reduced to ten men as Aaron Ramsey wasn’t ready to come on. Wigan pounced on this momentary lapse, as Moses turned Sagna one way and then the other before pinging the ball into the box. Szczesny came out to collect, but the ball ricocheted of his shins and into the path of Gomez who gleefully tapped it in. Arsenal were no strangers to coming back from losing positions, but the task had just become a whole lot harder.
To be fair to the home side, they finally woke up and responded. Al-Habsi had to make a stretching save from a Benayoun header that was going in, and the ball repeatedly fell to players’ feet in the box only for their touch to let them down. After a set-piece was cleared, Rosicky charged down the right flank with the ball and whizzed in a wonderful cross that Vermaelen attacked with gusto and powered into the net. It was 2-1 and game on.
Djourou could have restored parity just a few minutes later. As a corner came out and there was confusion in the box, the lanky defender put his foot through it and it went agonizingly wide of the post. It was a scarily open half, with Wigan looking dangerous whenever they had the ball and Arsenal carving out opportunities at will. As the whistle blew for the break, the game was perfectly set up.
Second half and damp squib
Unfortunately, the second half didn’t live up to its predecessor’s billing at all. One expected Arsenal to come out firing and emptying all cylinders to equalize; but barring a spurt in the first five minutes when Wigan cleared the ball of the line, there was scant to show for the Gunners’ efforts. Whether it was because of the away side’s impeccable tactics and heroic defending, Arsenal’s ineptitude in front of goal and lack of options on the bench, or just fatigue on part of the North Londoners is open to debate; perhaps it was a combination of all of them. Indeed, it was Wigan who looked closer to scoring at times; with Szczesny pulling off a great save to deny Moses once, and the striker fluffing his lines completely and shooting straight into the grateful Pole’s hands the second time.
One must doff the hat to Wigan and their willingness to stick to principle even in a venue as daunting as the Emirates. Time-wasting aside (which was understandably received with much anger and frustration by Wenger and co.), they deserve every bit of credit given to them; something which Arsenal fans realized as well as they clapped the Latics off the pitch after the final whistle.
Wigan’s astonishing run of form continues to defy belief- they have defeated Liverpool, Manchester United, Stoke and Arsenal over the past few games, and given themselves a real chance of survival. Arsenal must view this as a one-off incident rather than a precursor for things to come, and concentrate on the Chelsea match next week. Graft and respect- properly this time, please.
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/17/arsenal-1-wigan-2-defending-without-organisation/