Arsenal 2-0 Wigan

Late goals by William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky moved Arsenal three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

In the first half, a superb save from Mike Pollitt denied Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue missed his kick when he looked certain to score.

Arsenal were relieved that Marcus Bent and Paul Scharner headed chances wide.

Wigan looked set to snatch a draw, but Gallas headed in on 83 minutes and Rosicky rounded off a breakaway move to seal the win two minutes later.

With Manchester United beaten at Bolton, the result gave Arsenal clear space at the top of the table.

But for a long time it looked as though a win would elude the Gunners.

Wigan put on a brave display and their doggedness would have pleased incoming boss Steve Bruce, who was watching from the stands.

Bruce would have particularly enjoyed Titus Bramble's decisive intervention to cut out an Adebayor cross set to be converted by Theo Walcott.

And the former Birmingham manager would also have noted Wigan's ability to break and create chances of their own - most notably headers from Bent and Scharner that were not far off target.

In fact, Bent had thought he had scored in only the fifth minute when he rounded keeper Manuel Almunia, but the offside flag denied him.

But for most of the first 45 minutes, Wigan - as expected - found themselves deep in their own half, repelling Arsenal attacks.

Their task was initially made easier by Arsenal's inability to find top gear, with the untried midfield pairing of Denilson and Lassana Diarra not a match for the unavailable Cesc Fabregas and Matthieu Flamini partnership.

And, at times, it appeared Rosicky had caught the English disease of squandering possession.

Ironically, Arsenal's only Englishman on show, Walcott, was slick with his passing, direct with his movement and by far the biggest threat on the pitch.

He set up the Gunners' best chance in the first half when he played an excellent one-two with Adebayor, whose shot was superbly saved by Mike Pollitt.

And the England teenager showed more sharp skills when he sped to the byline and cut the ball back to Eboue, only for the Ivorian to fail to get a boot on the ball.

After the break, Arsenal attempted to come forward with more purpose, but for all of the quick passing they were clearly lacking the invention of the suspended Fabregas and the guile of the injured Alex Hleb.

Their pressing almost led to a goal when Adebayor's strong running took him deep into the box but the striker dragged a shot across the face of goal and no-one was there to follow up.

At the other end, a mix-up between Kolo Toure and Gallas presented Bent with a chance but he screwed his shot wide.

Then Pollitt just about managed to bat away Denilson's free-kick at the near post and Wigan looked to set to take a point away from the Emirates Stadium.

But with seven minutes left, Bacary Sagna's cross to the near post was headed in by Gallas to put Arsenal ahead.

And then Rosicky made the game safe as Arsenal launched a rapid counter-attack, ending in the Czech international slotting home.

The one blow for Arsenal will be the injury to Walcott, who was stretchered off late in the game.

Source: BBC Sport