Van Persie hat-trick puts Arsenal second

Robin Van Persie registered his first hat-trick in English football as Arsenal comfortably beat Wigan 3-0 at the Emirates. However it could have been many more as Van Persie skyed a penalty and hit the post. However Wigan had had a player sent off which did not help their cause. Arsenal were way better than they had been in the trip to Wigan when they drew 2-2. Arsene Wengar had changed half of the side since the trip to Leeds as Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott and Clichy all came in. Brother Gary and Steve Caldwell lined up together for the first time together in the Wigan side.

Van Persie had a good chance to give the Gunners the lead early on as Walcott got to the byline and then found Van Persie but Al Habsi was there to keep it from going in.

Walcott was then allowed to get to the byline again and pick out Fabregas this time but Gary Caldwell threw himself in the way to stop the shot.

On 21 minutes Arsenal took a deserved lead. Song slipping the ball through to the dutchman who smashed his shot past Al Habsi to make it 1-0.

Fabregas then had a good chance to make it 2 as a Sagna cross was set up for him by Nasri but Al Habsi was once again there to keep the Gunners at bay.

Walcott was having plenty of chances to run at the defence and should have scored. The ball was slipped through to him but clean through on goal he made the wrong decision and decided to pass the ball instead of shoot and the chance was gone.

Al Habsi once again kept the Gunners at bay, this time from a Nasri shot just tipping the ball over the bar.

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

Arsenal then took a 2-0 lead, once again through Van Persie. Fabregas floating the ball over to him inside the area onto his left foot and he rifled the ball into the back of the net on the volley.

Arsenal were then awarded a penalty after Gary Caldwell brought down Fabregas. It resulted in a red card for the Wigan defender. Robin Van Persie stepped up to grab his hat-trick but he blazed the penalty over the bar.

Van Persie desperatley wanted a third and he almost got the hat-trick but this time the post denied him from making it 3-0.

With 5 minutes to play Van Persie finally grabbed his hat-trick and make it 3-0. Fabregas playing the ball through to Walcott who held the ball up and Van Persie came along and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

The final score ended Arsenal 3-0 Wigan.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Nasri(75), Fabregas(87), Walcott, Wilshere, Song, Van Persie(86).
Subs: Shea, Gibbs, Eboue, Arshavin(75), Denilson(87), Chamakh(86), Bendtner.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Gohouri, G. Caldwell, S. Caldwell, Figueroa, Stam(46), N'Zogbia(78), Watson, Diame(46), Thomas, Rodallega.
Subs: Pollitt, Boyce(78), McCarthy, Gomez, McArthur(46), Di Santo(46), McManaman.

My man of the match: Robin Van Persie

Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 59,552