By Ian Grant
Cigan 2 Arsenal 3
Arsenal’s strengths and weaknesses were highlighted and laid out bare like a pie van under the streetlights on the Road to Wigan Pier.
The spine was fine. Van Persie and Henry were sharp; Fabregas excelled; Campbell was strong and Lehmann was OK (apart from his kicking).
But Ljungberg, switched to the left to protect Cygan (in for Clichy), was below par – along with Pires. Toure got turned and beaten too easily several times. Gilberto was caught out in possession too much.
As for Cygan, I once said to a mate at an away game who asked who the tall, bald defender was:”that’s Cygan, he costs us around two goals a game.” He was sent off in that game and Chelsea scored twice.
Arsenal were late in arriving – getting lost around a Wigan housing estate. It was the first time the teams had met, after all.
And it showed. McCulloch had an early chance. Roberts turned Toure easily and was pulled down (he’s ten times the Ivorian’s transfer fee after all). Toure was booked.
Camara fed McCulloch for a good chance on 4 minutes.
Henry took a free kick which rebounded off Filan, but no-one was following up.
But after a dodgy start, Arsenal’s rising star, van Persie turned De Zeeuw with a great first touch, ran and thumped it at the feet of Filan. It bounced at foot level and went through him. Ljungberg was waiting in space.
Goals change games.
Soon after, Pires set up Van Persie in the area, who swivelled it first time just wide and Henry shot high and wide.
Fabregas sent a perfectly weighted ball down the inside right channel. Henry ran on and angled it past Filan. It was his 143th goal in the League, seven short of the Arsenal record.
But Wigan are full of Northern grit – a mix of Premiership rejects with something to prove, and aspiring youngsters on the up. And Arsenal don’t have a Vieira or Keane with the force of character to shore up a result.
De Zeeuw beat Cygan in the air.The ball across the area beat Campbell and Toure as Camara nipped in to head past Lehmann.
Toure cleared off the line from Roberts on a run, off the line.
Cygan then had a conspicuous fit of poor distribution. And De Zeeuw beat him in the air and knocked it down for Francis who fired wide.
But in this class versus grit battle, Arsenal won a free kick on 41 minutes. Henry was denied a quick kick from Poll. But his effort swerved away from Filan and in off the post from 32 yards.
Wigan’s second goal highlighted Arsenal’s weaknesses. Fabregas lost a midfield bouncing ball due to his height; Gilberto doesn’t have the ball winning capabilities of Vieira and lost control; Cygan (who doesn’t concentrate for 90 minutes) got sucked into central midfield. Bullard moved into the space vacated by the Frenchman, dummied Campbell and fired home.
After the break, Campbell headed a corner to Toure – who just missed a connection (Arsenal are much more of a threat from corners this season).
Henry set up van Persie who had a bad first touch with only Filan to beat. He should have taken it left – but de Zeeuw got back.
Cygan performed his sixth bad pass which broke down a multiple pass move.
A great flick from Henry set up Fabregas, but the ball bobbled.
But Wigan are gutsy. Roberts turned Toure, Camara got ahead of Cygan. Toure cleared. The ball hit Cygan’s arm – a potential penalty claim?
Flamini on as a substitute for van Persie, was too small for aerial midfield battle and lost out. And a poor first touch lead to a booking. Gilberto continued to get caught in possesssion too much. And Bullard was ahead of him on some 50/50s.
Cygan then gave it away twice – and from the latter, a clumsy kick, Wigan should have equalised from Roberts’ cross.
Paul Jewell said: ” We won’t play a better side for a while.”
Other times this season, Arsenal’s attack won’t get the defence out of a jam. But it is nothing that a few judicious forays into the transfer market wouldn’t solve. And it is the first league win on the road this season.