Arsenal through to semi finals after win over Wigan

Arsenal now face a tie against Ipswich in the semi finals of the Carling Cup after a 2-0 win over Wigan in the quarter finals. An own goal and a Nicklas Bendtner strike secured Arsenal's path to the next round. Arsene Wenger made a considerable amount of changes for the tie as Robin Van Persie made his first start since injury and took on the captaincy for the night. Meanwhile on the subs bench reserves team goalkeeper James Shea earned his first call up to the senior team after impressing for the reserves. Usual replacements for the League cup Eboue, Gibbs, Bendtner and Vela all started ahead of Sagna, Clichy, Arshavin and Chamakh.

Early on Arsenal got a great opportunity to take the lead when Van Persie floated in a free kick towards the unmarked Bendtner but he couldn't manage to get his head to the ball and it went out for a goalkick.

Then Wigan could have taken the lead when Moses ran into the box and then cut inside past Eboue but put his effort wide and into the side netting.

Vela really should have give the hosts the lead though when Wilshere fed Van Persie who back heeled the ball into Vela. He then chipped the ball over Al Habsi in the Wigan goal but the ball somehow would not find its way into the back of the net and went wide.

Then Arsenal deservedly took the lead 4 minutes from the break when Walcott delivered the ball in from the corner towards a crowd of bodies and bounced off the Wigan player Alcaraz and into the back of his own net.

Wigan then had a chance from a corner to get the equaliser. Alcaraz who moments later had scored in his own net almost scored at the right end this time but Szczesny kept the shot out. He then fumbled it and an Arsenal player bundled the ball over the cross bar for another Wigan corner.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

20 minutes from time the Gunners went 2-0 up through Nicklas Bendtner. Van Persie put Vela down the left hand side who put a first time cross into the box across the face of goal towards the back post were Bendtner slid in to double Arsenal's advantage.

Vela was having continuous good chances throughout the night and another one fell to him. Walcott picked him out free inside the area but put his effort straight at Al Habsi from a tight angle.

Arsenal were having numerous chances to finish the game off but failed to convert them. That was the same case when Walcott raced down the left hand side into the area but bent his shot just the wrong side of the goal.

The Gunners then had a strong claim for a penalty turned down when Walcott was set up for a shot which looked to have been blocked by a hand but the officials said no penalty.

Nasri then looked to have finally added a third for Arsenal on the night when Vela fed him in. He rounded the goalkeeper and shot but his effort was cleared off the line. The third goal would not come but it was job done anyway and Arsenal were into the semi finals.

The final score ended Arsenal 2-0 Wigan.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs, Wilshere(73), Denilson, Van Persie(73), Walcott, Vela, Bendtner(85).
Subs: Shea, Nordtveit, Sagna, Eastmond(73), Nasri(73), Arshavin, Emmanuel-Thomas(85).

Wigan: Al Habsi, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Caldwell, McArthur, Thomas, Watson, Stam(79), Boselli(82), Victor Moses(36).
Subs: Di Santo, N'Zogbia(36), Pollitt, Gomez(82), Diame, McManaman(79), Mustoe.

My man of the match: Robin Van Persie

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 59,525