14th May 2013 By Jeff @ArsenalTrend & Gordon @Arsenal_Supremo
Arsenal is now primed to qualify for the Champions League for the 16th season in a row after reclaiming fourth place with one Premier League fixture remaining. Wigan, weary from Saturday's first cup win, briefly posed a threat when Shaun Maloney canceled out Lukas Podolski's opener just before halftime from a free kick but a powerful start to the second half yielded nothing for Wigan before Arsenal's ruthlessness produced three goals in nine minutes to seal the win.
Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and finally Podolski all ripped through Wigan's defense to score. Wigan were relegated from the Premier League just three days after their FA Cup final triumph as Arsenal seized control of the race to finish in the top four with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday. Roberto Martinez's side had arrived at the Emirates Stadium hopeful that their dramatic upset against Manchester City would prove the springboard for another great escape in the relegation battle.
Arsenal desperately needed the points as well as they try to qualify for the Champions League and the Gunners romped home thanks to a brace from Lukas Podolski and strikes from Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey.Shaun Maloney had given Wigan hope with a first half equaliser, but the Latics, running on fumes after their Wembley heroics, will experience the unique anguish of becoming the first side to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.
While Wigan, four points behind Sunderland with one game left, will be back in the second tier for the first time since 2005, Arsene Wenger's team are on course to play in the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season. They had fallen two points behind Tottenham after their north London rivals won at Stoke, but now head to Newcastle on Sunday knowing another win will guarantee a top four finish.
They would not even need three points if Tottenham fail to beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane. Martinez named the same starting line-up that stunned City, but the Latics seemed sapped of energy and they surrendered the lead in careless fashion in the 11th minute.
When Santi Cazorla lofted over a corner, Wigan's statuesque defenders allowed the ball to bounce just six yards from goal and Podolski, having escaped some slack marking from James McArthur and Emmerson Boyce, took full advantage as he stooped to head past Joel Robles.
Over 20,000 Wigan supporters had celebrated their triumph at Wembley, but the tiny group, numbering no more than 500, who made the return trip to north London were beginning to get a sinking feeling in the torrential rain.
Wigan's sloppy defending has been their Achilles heel this season and they were almost caught out again when Laurent Koscielny was gifted yards of space to poke Cazorla's corner wide from close-range.Yet somehow Wigan were level in first half stoppage-time.
Scottish winger Maloney forced Mikel Arteta to concede a free-kick in a dangerous area after surging clear of the midfielder, who responded with the slightest of nudges. Maloney picked himself up to take the set-piece and curled a superb strike over the wall and past Wojciech Szczesny.
Wigan should have been in front at the start of the second half when Arouna Kone played a one-two with Callum McManaman to earn a clear sight of goal, but the Ivorian striker's shot was parried by Szczesny. James McCarthy then turned to fire home, only to see the linesman's offside flag halt his celebrations. But those two narrow escapes provoked a response from Arsenal and Cazorla forced a brilliant double save from Robles.
Wigan suffered a significant blow when in-form winger McManaman was stretchered off just before the hour. Wenger's men were finding space on the flanks far too easily and Wigan's failure to adapt proved fatal in the 63rd minute.Cazorla made a run that left Roger Espinoza trailing in his wake and the Spaniard whipped over a low cross which Walcott bundled past Robles's weak attempted save.
Wigan needed an immediate response, but instead they were dealt a hammer blow five minutes later as more woeful defending allowed Podolski to put the game beyond reach. Cazorla won a header far too easily and Wigan's defenders showed no urgency as Podolski ran clear to flick his shot over the hopelessly exposed Robles.
Ramsey put the seal on Wigan's relegation in the 71st minute as the Welsh midfielder sprinted away down the left before lashing into the roof of the net. The atmosphere at the Emirate stadium tonight was exceptional, the fans made the ground electrifying and the players step up their game with an outstanding display. The game was a beauty to watch.
It all goes down to the final game at ST. James Park were Arsenal's last win on the ground was a 3-1 win in 2009.
Arsene Wenger Match Reaction
Wenger told Sky Sports: "I am happy that we won the game. We had a good start but then became a bit conservative and got caught just before half-time.
"At 1-1, Wojciech made a good save and then in the last 20 minutes the fact that we maintained the pace, and they were tired from the FA Cup final, gave us a big win.
"On the break, Walcott's goal was certainly decisive. From then on, you felt that for Wigan it was becoming difficult."
Wenger feels Wigan's relegation will be a loss to the Premier League as he admires the way they play.
He said: "You want to congratulate Wigan and you feel sorry for them, because with the quality of football they play it is sad that they go down.
Theo Walcott Match Reaction
"It was one of my most important goals and hopefully there can be a few more next weekend," Walcott told Sky Sports.
"I am so proud of the guys because we deserved it.
"I felt like we had to take the initiative and make runs in behind, which we weren't really doing in the first half.
Wigan Manager Match Reaction
"We've got one more game. We need to reflect and share our good feelings with the fans after winning the FA Cup," he told BBC Sport.
"I never expected this," he said. "The players have been great ambassadors for Wigan Athletic. I don't think we've deserved to be in the bottom three but we are.
Match Facts and Stats
1. Santi Cazorla is the first Arsenal player to get four assists in a single Premier League game since Fabregas v Blackburn in Oct 2009
2. Theo Walcott seven attempted passes, four complete. three crosses attempted one complete.
3. Full Time Stats Arsenal v Wigan Shots 21-11 On target 10-2, Fouls 12-11 Duels Won 54%-46%, Pass Accuracy 81%-84%, Possession 48%-52%
4. Only two players have been subbed off more often in a single Premier League season than Podolski (22 times).
5. Santi Cazorla is the second player to register 3 assists in a Premier League game this season, Podolski (v WHUFC) is the other.
6. Santi Cazorla/Podolski have combined for seven goals this season, the joint-most in the PL along with Giroud/Walcott.
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What are you thoughts on the game? Who was your MOTM? Are you confident that we can beat Newcastle at their ground to seal Champions League Football. Personally I don't see no reason why not! COYG
