Arsenal thrash Wigan at the DW

Arsenal put four past Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Saturday. Mikel Arteta opened the goalscoring with a long range drive from distance, Thomas Vermaelen scored a header from a van Persie cross, Gervinho fired home a van Persie rebound and then the clinical Dutchman himself wrapped things up with a late fourth.

The Gunners had only managed to win one point from six on their last two visits to the DW Stadium, and so the three points today were hard fought and well deserved.


Victory for Arsenal now pushes them up to fifth spot, and level on points with Newcastle.


The Gunners started brightly and it would only take a matter of 28 minutes for Arsenal to be in front. A wonderful marauding run from Belgian centre back Thomas Vermaelen opened up space in the Wigan midfield, for Spaniard Mikel Arteta to pick up the ball and smash home a curving ball past Ali Al-Habsi.


Just one minute later, Thomas Vermaelen was on the scoresheet himself, for the second game running. Robin van Persie looped over a corner to the back post where the Belgian rose above his marker and headed into the left side of the net.


Al Habsi needed to be at his very best just before half time to keep out Robin van Persie, and keep the scorelines respectable for the Latics.


Into the second half, there was a huge shout for a penalty as Steve Gohouri took down Aaron Ramsey in the box, but the referee decided that it was a fair challenge and the game would play on.


But Gervinho had been causing issues for Wigan all evening, and he finally got what he deserved as Robin van Persie delightfully controlled inside the box, taking the ball past two defenders, and then thumping the ball at the Wigan keeper, but the Ivorian happened to be lurking at the far post to fire the ball home for 3-0.


Gervinho has struggled so far this season to get on the scoresheet, but there appears to be signs that there is a lot more to come from the Ivorian this season.


Finally, the fourth goal was probably the best in terms of team work. A wonderful surging run from Theo Walcott past the last defender took him one on one with Al-Habsi, but unselfishly the England international cut the ball back for Robin van Persie and the flying Dutchman spanked the ball home. 4-0 and game over. 


A happy Arsene Wenger said after the game: "It was a great team performance where we controlled the game and could have scored more. We can only be happy."