It was 1-0 to the Arsenal, as on a rainy afternoon in Lancashire, the Gunners showed some heart and resolve to eke out a crucial win over Wigan in their English Premier League game.
Mikel Arteta struck the only goal from the penalty spot on the hour at the DW Stadium, after Theo Walcott had been brought down by Jean Beausejour, as the Gunners went into third place, one point ahead of Tottenham and Chelsea, with the former playing later Saturday and the Blues, who have played two games less, hosting Villa Sunday.
Following the Gunners' easy and stylish 5-2 win over Reading, this game did not quite pan out in a similar vein, as Wigan gave as much as they got, with the Gunners needing to use all their experience to get the positive result, a result which will give a lot of pleasure to Arsene Wenger.
Roberto Martinez decided to go with a flat-back four, rather than his preferred back three with two wing-backs, and that seemed to change the dynamic of the game from what was expected.
Wigan were enjoying more of the possession early on, without really threatening the Arsenal goal, while the away side looked to spring quickly on the counter attack.
The first real chance fell to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Santi Cazorla, who was otherwise shackled well in the first half by Wigan, played Arteta into space, with the Spanish midfielder running down the middle before sliding a ball through to Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right, with Ali Al Habsi saving the youngster's powerful low drive with his left hand.
Lukas Podolski then had a crack at goal from distance, which was again well kept out by the Wigan goalkeeper.
Wigan were still looking the better side, charging down when Arsenal were in possession and looking to get in behind the away side's defense.
Franco Di Santo opened Arsenal up soon after, playing through Arouna Kone, who easily outsprinted Per Mertesacker, but scuffed his shot completely with just Wojciech Szczesny to beat.
Arsenal, were, again looking like that jaded side who have found it so hard this season to create chances going forward, with Walcott, again playing as a central striker, very much in the periphery.
Podolski as well did not look even remotely as much of a threat as he did against Reading, and with Cazorla well marked, only Wilshere looked like the player capable of carving open a decent chance with his driving runs down the middle.
Wenger had plenty of work to do at halftime, to try and get his team up for the occasion on a soggy pitch which hadn't really helped quick attacking interplay which Arsenal are known for.
The halftime team talk seemed to work as the Gunners came with much more of a purpose in the second half, looking threatening going forward.
Walcott was the first one to test Al Habsi, but his strike from seven yards off a cross from Oxlade-Chamberlain was well kept out.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was Arsenal's best player in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, twisting and turning and torturing Beausejour down Arsenal's right.
Another quick cross from the right winger almost found the goal, but the ball just bounced off Emmerson Boyce, after Walcott had intelligently let it run, with Wilshere waiting in the middle for a tap in.
The goal came in innocuous circumstances. Kieran Gibbs played an overhit cross from the left, which Walcott ran down and made something of, playing a one-two with Cazorla, with Beausejour caught out of position and behind the attacker clumsily bringing down the Arsenal forward.
Referee Jonathan Moss had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, which Arteta stepped up to take and calmly slot in, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, in the 60th minute.
Wigan did their best to get back into the game, with Kone again presented with a good chance, but Szczesny made a good save. David Jones then came close with a strike from just outside the box, but the goal just did not come for the home side as the Gunners went away with a precious three points.
Update:
Manchester City looked like they had lost the chance to close the gap at the top of the table with Manchester United to three points, against a stubborn Reading side, but Gareth Barry scored a header in the second minute of stoppage time to earn the Premier League champions all three points.
Results: Wigan 0-1 Arsenal; Manchester City 1-0 Reading; Newcastle 1-0 QPR; Southampton 0-1 Sunderland; Tottenham 0-0 Stoke; West Brom 2-1 Norwich; West Ham 1-2 Everton.
