Written by George Sezer Sunday, 23 January 2011 04:32

GunnerTalk Blog

By George Sezer

This was a game between the highest and the lowest scorers of the league and the final result of 3-0 was not a big surprise. But how we did not win by double figures was, after Arsenal produced one of the most scintillating attacking football of the season.

Poor Wigan did not know what hit them as Arsenal started pounding their goal almost from the kick off. Nasri made our first of countless chances when he caused havoc in their defence with his quick feet but his low drive at the end was saved well by Ali Al Habsi.

Our reborn left back Clichy found Walcott with a great diagonal 60 yard pass, the young forward’s first touch was sublime, and so was the low cross he made for Van Persie but unfortunately their goalie pulled a great save from Dutchman’s close range effort.

Arsenal’s centre midfield trio of Song, Wilshere and Fabregas were passing the ball with purpose, efficiency, speed and accuracy and combined in the 21^st minute to set Van Persie up for the inevitable first goal. Song played the perfect final ball in front of the one of the most feared left foot of the game and there was only going to be one outcome; 1-0 to the Arsenal.

The team were firing on all cylinders and with RVP back to his best it was a matter of when not if we were going to score more goals. Fabregas would have score one with a delicious half volley but for yet another great save by Ali after a lovely Arsenal move which ended up with a great cross to far post by Sagna (he is getting better at those) for Nasri to cushion the ball back to our captain. The rebound fell back to Sagna, this time the right back found Captain Marvel, still inside the box, with a clever pass; the brilliant Spaniard turned Caldwell inside out, twice but a last ditch challenge by Figueroa saved a certain goal. He was denied by their keeper again soon after when he side stepped a defender and had a pop at their goal from close range.

A wonderful Van Persie through ball released Walcott but the English international chose to pass the ball to Fabregas instead of shooting or going round the keeper and that meant the half time score line was incredibly, still, only 1-0.

Wigan made a couple of changes to halt the Arsenal onslaught but nothing they do could stop this team in this mood. Van Persie, who else, made sure there was no travesty when he volleyed in a magnificent over the top ball by Fabregas in the 59^th minute – a goal of real beauty, made by a world class midfielder and scored by world class striker.

The Arsenal captain deserved a goal but was fouled inside their box by Caldwell after a great through ball by impressive Song put him one on one with their goalkeeper. Red card and a Penalty, a great chance for RVP to get his first ever hat-trick; and... That great left foot skied the ball wildly over the bar. But I really liked his reaction, not only he was distraught but he upped his already high level of performance to make amends and get that first elusive hat-trick in the Premiership.  Within minutes he hit the outside of the post with a vicious curling shot but got his 3^rd goal when Walcott held off the defender after another great over the top ball by Fabregas found the young forward inside their box and the Dutch international pounced on it to blast the loose ball in, 5 minutes from the final whistle.

We made changes to rest Nasri for Arshavin, Fabregas and Van Persie for Denilson and Chamakh in the 75^th and 85^th minutes respectively but still went looking for goals until the end.

What impressed me most was the determination of the players not to let this one slip, the work rate of the whole team with or without the ball, and last but not least; looking very secure and confident in our defending with Clichy is playing like we all know he can, Sagna fast becoming the best right back in the EPL and Djourou playing like a centre back that we have been missing since the famous 5 retired.