By Phil Dawkes
**Arsenal produced an incisive, attacking display to cruise to a comfortable victory against a lacklustre Wigan.**Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen rose to head the Gunners into the lead from a corner before curling in his second from the edge of the box.
Arsenal’s third came when a shot by Eduardo found the net courtesy of a deflection from Emmanuel Eboue, who may well ultimately claim it.
A back-heel finish by Cesc Fabregas in injury time crowned a superb win.
Headlines in the week leading up to the game had been dominated by the fall-out from the more unsavoury aspects of Arsenal’s 4-2 defeat at Manchester City.
Seven days on, and without a pumped-up former Gunner in the opposition ranks, Arsenal showcased the authoritative, possession football that is their staple.
However, in the early stages a quality final ball was lacking and the home side were limited to a brace of long-range snap-shots from Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby and a free-kick from the former which flashed past the post.
Van Persie was presented with a better opportunity after 20 minutes when Eboue was released down the right before driving over a cross from near the byline, but the ball was just behind the striker and he was only able to steer a tame effort wide of goal.
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“Not the best Arsenal performance by a long shot, but it was important to win - and we did”
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After softening up their opponents with these early jabs, Arsenal landed the first hammer blow from which Wigan never recovered. when Van Persie swung over a corner and Vermaelen rose above a trio of Wigan defenders to plant a powerful header past keeper Chris Kirkland.
The Gunners maintained the pressure following the goal and Van Persie again carved out a good opportunity, threading in Eboue behind the Wigan defence on the right but the midfielder’s shot flashed across goal.
Having demonstrated his nerves early on with a header outside the area that almost gifted Wigan a chance, young goalkeeper Vito Mannone made a fine save to preserve Arsenal’s lead, parrying Emmerson Boyce’s six-yard header from a corner.
It was be Wigan’s only meaningful effort of a half in which they were lucky not to be trailing by more.
Just prior to the break, Kirkland saved well at the feet of Van Persie as he slid in to meet an Eduardo cross, and moments later the Dutchman failed to connect with a swivelling volley after Fabregas’ delicate chip had found him unmarked with his back to goal.
It did not take long for Arsenal to double their lead following the re-start it was again Vermaelen who scored.
The Belgian brought the ball forward, found Eboue on the right and continued his run to enable him to meet the return pass before curling a superb shot into the top-right corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Arsenal’s midweek match-winner Eduardo was the central figure in the third goal, striking a post with a volley from a Gael Clichy cross before driving in a follow-up effort which found the net courtesy of a telling deflection off Eboue.
So often limited in the game by his role as Arsenal’s midfield anchor, Alexandre Song shook off the shackles and was almost rewarded for it when he collected the ball on the half-way line and drove forward before unleashing a shot that struck the outside of the post.
So few were Wigan’s chances to score that it seemed almost cruel when substitute Paul Scharner side-footed home following Mannone’s save from a Jason Scotland shot, only for the Austrian to be adjudged offside.
It would have been more than the away side deserved though and their misery was compounded in injury time when Van Persie found substitute Nicklas Bendtner on the right and his drilled cross was back-heeled into the net by Fabregas.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"It is a continuance of our performances since the start of the season.
"We showed our resilience, a great attitude and played with fluency. Our job is not to talk too much but to win games.
“We were faithful to the way we wanted to play up until the end of the game. Everybody worked hard for the team.”