Arsenal enter top four thanks to Arteta penalty

Arsenal will be in the top four come Christmas thanks to a Mikel Arteta penalty as the Gunners beat Wigan 1-0 at the DW on Saturday afternoon. It was a far from convincing performance but it was good defensively as Arsenal had to withstand constant pressure from their opponents in the second half. However, Arteta cooly slotted home his third penalty this season to take home all 3 points in this crucial period of the season. The Gunners were unchanged from last Monday's win at Reading as Theo Walcott once again played in his preferred role as a central striker. The only changes were on the bench as Jenkinson and Arshavin came in for Giroud and Rosicky who had fallen ill.

Arteta fired home from the spot to give Arsenal all 3 points

The first chance of the game came on 8 minutes as Arteta fed Oxlade-Chamberlain who stung the hands of Al Habsi at the near post.

Wigan's first chance came moments later as Kone managed to run through the middle of the pitch and then rather selfishly hit a shot from far out. The ball took a deflection and fell slowly into the arms of Szczesny.

Podolski was the next Arsenal player to test Al Habsi as he got to the edge of the area before letting fly and seeing his effort saved.

Midway through the first half Kone had another chance as Di Santo played him and he raced past Mertesacker but from 6 yards out he somehow missed the goal completely.

The score at half time was 0-0.

The first chance of the second half fell to Walcott as Oxlade-Chamberlain managed to pull the ball back into the path of him but Al Habsi was there once more to keep the scores level.

Just before the hour mark Arsenal were awarded with a penalty after Walcott was bundled over by Beausejour. Arteta took the penalty and he sent Al Habsi the wrong way to give the Gunners the lead.

Beausejour immediately tried to make up for giving away the penalty as he got the ball on the left but his shot flashed wide of the goal.

Wigan's period of dominance started now though as Figueroa managed to work a shot off from outside the box but it took a slight deflection and ended up as an easy save for Szczesny.

Shortly after, Kone had another great chance as he got inbetween Sagna and Mertesacker before firing straight at Szczesny.

The hosts then came the closest that they'd come in the match as Jones drove a shot from outside the box which flew inches past the post.

Theo Walcott then tried his luck from a free-kick as he curled it over the wall, but also over the crossbar.

The final score finished Wigan 0-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Wigan: Al Habsi, Stam, Figueroa, Boyce, Beausejour, Maloney(89), McArthur, McCarthy, Jones, Di Santo(77), Kone.
Subs: Pollitt, Caldwell, Fyvie, Golobart, Gomez(89), McManaman(77), Boselli.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla(90), Oxlade-Chamberlain(75), Walcott, Podolski(79).
Subs: Mannone, Koscielny(90), Jenkinson, Coquelin(79), Ramsey(75), Arshavin, Gervinho.

My man of the match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 21,754