Arsenal 4-0 Wigan
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:30 pmArsenal FC blew Wigan Athletic away with four goals of high quality at the Emirates Stadium. New boy Thomas Vermaelen struck twice, and Cesc Fabregas scored the last, with the third contested by both Eduardo da Silva and Emmanuel Eboue.
Us fans of the Gunners were relieved to come away with three points; in the last few games we had looked more than shaky. First we had gone down 2-1 to Manchester United, despite being the better team, and some would argue that was the case too in the 4-2 loss to Manchester City the following week. It seemed like Arsenal's poor form might continue against Standard de Liege in midweek in the Champions League when we went 2-0 down in the first five minutes, but we fought back, and thanks to a bit of luck, the Gunners triumphed three goals to two.
A couple of chances went to waste for Arsenal, including one from Robin van Persie after good work down the right wing from Emmanuel Eboue. Eboue cut the ball back for van Persie, but it was slightly behind the Dutchman, and it bobbled off of van Persie's right leg.
Eduardo then had an audacious go from far out, and it flew wide, thanks not only to a deflection from a Wigan defender but from the lack of accuracy in the shot from the Croat. Arsenal threw players forward for the corner, including Thomas Vermaelen, who rose highest to head home brilliantly from van Persie's corner, leaving Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal no chance. Vermaelen ran to van Persie, and the two celebrated the fantastic headed goal from the Belgian.
Wigan hardly troubled our third choice goalkeeper Vito Mannone, except in one rare foray forward that led to a corner. It was swung in, and a quick header surprised Vito, who parried the ball forwards. The young Italian leapt forward to pounce onto the ball, but failed to retrieve it. William Gallas athletically cleared the ball, only for it to be headed back into danger. It was cleared again; but once more not well enough. Alex Song then had a go at clearing, but the ball fell to Hugo Rodallega, who spurned the chance by overheading the ball wide of the goal, much to the relief of us Gunners.
Early on in the second half, Thomas Vermaelen ventured forward, like Liverpool fans love to see Daniel Agger do, and after a quick one-two with Eboue, the centre half curled the ball magnificently past Kirkland into the top left corner. Vermaelen and Arsenal had two; and it looked like there was no way back for Wigan.
It was then Gael Clichy's turn to speed forward, and after dribbling across the box and feeding van Persie, Clichy continued his run and was found by the Dutch forward. The French wing back cut back across his marker, and crossed for Eduardo, whose drilled volley smacked the post. After some hesistant defending, Eduardo sped in to drill home via Eboue's leg, with both players wheeling off in celebration with the rest of the team unsure who to give congratulations to.
Substitute Nicklas Bendtner then galloped down the right wing, and crossed low for Cesc Fabregas, who flicked the ball through the legs of bewildered keeper Chris Kirkland. It was a brilliant win for Arsenal, who have now gotten their chase for silverware back on track.
Us fans of the Gunners were relieved to come away with three points; in the last few games we had looked more than shaky. First we had gone down 2-1 to Manchester United, despite being the better team, and some would argue that was the case too in the 4-2 loss to Manchester City the following week. It seemed like Arsenal's poor form might continue against Standard de Liege in midweek in the Champions League when we went 2-0 down in the first five minutes, but we fought back, and thanks to a bit of luck, the Gunners triumphed three goals to two.
A couple of chances went to waste for Arsenal, including one from Robin van Persie after good work down the right wing from Emmanuel Eboue. Eboue cut the ball back for van Persie, but it was slightly behind the Dutchman, and it bobbled off of van Persie's right leg.
Eduardo then had an audacious go from far out, and it flew wide, thanks not only to a deflection from a Wigan defender but from the lack of accuracy in the shot from the Croat. Arsenal threw players forward for the corner, including Thomas Vermaelen, who rose highest to head home brilliantly from van Persie's corner, leaving Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal no chance. Vermaelen ran to van Persie, and the two celebrated the fantastic headed goal from the Belgian.
Wigan hardly troubled our third choice goalkeeper Vito Mannone, except in one rare foray forward that led to a corner. It was swung in, and a quick header surprised Vito, who parried the ball forwards. The young Italian leapt forward to pounce onto the ball, but failed to retrieve it. William Gallas athletically cleared the ball, only for it to be headed back into danger. It was cleared again; but once more not well enough. Alex Song then had a go at clearing, but the ball fell to Hugo Rodallega, who spurned the chance by overheading the ball wide of the goal, much to the relief of us Gunners.
Early on in the second half, Thomas Vermaelen ventured forward, like Liverpool fans love to see Daniel Agger do, and after a quick one-two with Eboue, the centre half curled the ball magnificently past Kirkland into the top left corner. Vermaelen and Arsenal had two; and it looked like there was no way back for Wigan.
It was then Gael Clichy's turn to speed forward, and after dribbling across the box and feeding van Persie, Clichy continued his run and was found by the Dutch forward. The French wing back cut back across his marker, and crossed for Eduardo, whose drilled volley smacked the post. After some hesistant defending, Eduardo sped in to drill home via Eboue's leg, with both players wheeling off in celebration with the rest of the team unsure who to give congratulations to.
Substitute Nicklas Bendtner then galloped down the right wing, and crossed low for Cesc Fabregas, who flicked the ball through the legs of bewildered keeper Chris Kirkland. It was a brilliant win for Arsenal, who have now gotten their chase for silverware back on track.
