Wigan Athletic against Arsenal

Gomez shoots against Vermaelen and there are more, slightly less vociferous, shouts for handball.

Gomez unleashes a shot that - the crowd believe - was handballed in the area. Kone could make the shouts irrelevant but Mertesacker does well and Wigan get nothing.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Gomez comes on for Maloney, who has put in a decent showing in attack.

Figueroa puts in a cross from the left, but McArthur can't make anything of it as he heads wide from the edge of the area.

McManaman turns well but Coquelin there to tidy up.

Stam makes a dangerous looking run but ends up too central. He finds McArthur, who knocks it on for Beausejour, but the momentum is lost and Arsenal get it away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Maloney gets a bit of a soft booking for a push on Coquelin in the centre circle.

Wigan are on top, but they're struggling to make any real headway.

Wigan earn a corner and it appears McManaman has earned a second, but Sagna's interception took a nick off the substitute.

Figueroa once more tries a speculative shot as the corner falls in his direction. Over the bar once again.

Stam centres the ball but Mertesacker makes a vital interception with Kone ready to turn home.

Sagna looks to burst free, but ends up fouling Figueroa.

Wigan win a throw-in from Gibbs.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Coquelin comes on for Podolski. Wenger certainly looking to settle for the one goal here.

Kone is belatedly but correctly given offside.

Wilshere runs into traffic and loses possession.

Stam once more sends over a cross from the right that fails to find its target.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> McManaman is on for Di Santo.

Walcott curls the free-kick over the bar. Not a bad effort but Al Habsi was never troubled.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ramsey comes on for Oxlade-Chamberlain. The winger had been causing problems but Wenger may just want to settle things down at this stage.

Figueroa fouls Wilshere and Arsenal have a free-kick in a potentially dangerous area.

Oxlade-Chamberlain once more makes space for a cross, but Stam is able to head it away.

McArthur feeds Jones on the edge of the area and his shot bounces back off the stanchion.

Wigan get the corner - and a subsequent cross - clear and look to counter.

Oxlade-Chamberlain tries a speculative shot that is deflected behind for a corner.

Kone collects a pass from Beausejour, does brilliantly to make room for the shot, and then forces a save from the 'keeper.

The corner is cleared only as far as Figueroa, whose shot deflected off Arteta and nearly caught Szczesny out.

Beausejour sends in a decent cross and earns another corner.

The Di Santo sinbin explained: the ref noticed, during his chat, that the Argentine was wearing an earring and sent him off the field to remove it.

It's taken short and Jones ends up flicking it out of play.

Maloney sends in a cross that comes off Mertesacker for a corner.

Di Santo is finally allowed back on. We might need to wait until after the game to find out what happened there.

Wigan are still down to ten men - and the crowd are furious. Walcott, in the meantime, fails to make a chance count.

Di Santo is off the field for reasons no one seems to be able to understand.

Di Santo is penalised for a foul on Gibbs, and the ref has a word with him for his constant complaints. The home fans are not happy with the officiating today.

Podolski looks to feed the ball through for Gibbs, but it's overhit and the left-back can't latch onto it.

Wigan look to respond instantly, and McCarthy races at the defence before feeding Beausejour, who hits the ball across goal for a goal kick. Disappointing once more.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR ARSENAL!</b> The Spaniard makes no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Gibbs sends a long cross from the left that Walcott collects out on the right. After playing a one-two with Cazorla, he's bundled over by Beausejour. Arteta steps up...

<b>PENALTY TO ARSENAL!</b>

Gibbs chests the ball down to Szczesny, and it just has enough momentum to reach the goalkeeper.

Oxlade-Chamberlain swings another cross in and Arsenal win a corner. Once more, they're unable to make any real use of it.

Walcott is dispossessed as he attempts to turn and run.

Beausejour sends in a cross from the left that catches a few players on both sides out. Eventually, Maloney handballs and the Gunners win a free-kick.

Arsenal get a cross in from the right but it's out of play for a goal kick, seemingly bouncing off Podolski.

Cazorla wins a free-kick out on the left flank as Stam attempts a bit of skill that ends up with him losing possession.

Pododolski fails to clear the wall, and Oxlade-Chamberlain's blocked follow-up ends up with Al Habsi.

Oxlade-Chamberlain wins a slightly dubious free-kick as his flailing heel ctahces McCarthy as he takes a shot.

Figueroa, famed for his long-range goal against Stoke, attempts a speculative effort that never threatens to cause any problems.

AL HABSI SAVES FROM WALCOTT! Chamberlain cuts back for Walcott, who this time gets a shot away, but he's slightly off balance and the Wigan 'keeper is able to make the save. Great chance for the visitors.

McCarthy makes a burst into the box but takes a touch too many and Arsenal get it clear.

Maloney makes an impressive run down the left, beating Sagna, but Merteseacker shows enough tenacity to force a goal kick.

Oxlade-Chamberlain gets in behind the back after selling Beausejour a dummy before cutting back for Walcott, but Boyce makes a timely interception.

<b>ARSENAL GET THE SECOND HALF UNDERWAY</b>

ESPN's Janusz Michallik tweets: "Walcott can play as a striker but tons to learn. Forces some runs. Not instinctive."

Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp says it "does his head in" that tackles like that for which Wilshere was booked are considered verboten these days.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/1222/arsenalvwiganbattle20121222_275x155.jpg"><br>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jean Beausejour do battle.

The Wigan defence, despite the injury woes and McCarthy deployed out of position, can be very pleased with how they've handled this first half.

A fairly even first half, with both sides struggling to force any real chances. Arsenal, you suspect, would like to have Giroud available to give them another option.

<b>HALF-TIME</b>

Walcott looks to collect a pass over the top but has to settle for a throw-in. He's not had too much to work with in this first half.

Beausejour goes through but in the end can't seem to decide whether to cross or shoot and his effort is easily dealt with.

Oxlade-Chamberlain races down the right but Figueroa makes a strong challenge and it's a goal kick to Wigan.

McCarthy jumps up for a challenge and does Wilshere a bit of damage in the process. The ref's called a drop ball.

Di Santo tries his luck from range. While he catches it sweetly, it's comfortably over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Wilshere fouls Maloney and, amid calls for a red from the home fans, is shown yellow. It was one-footed and looked to be controlled.

The corner is hit deep but Wigan get it clear once more.

Arsenal look to have won a corner from Figueroa, but it hits the corner flag and goes for a throw-in. From the throw-in, Arsenal finally win a corner.

Maloney feeds Beausejour, but the linesman dubiously calls it offside.

A handball is given against Maloney in thw Wigan half, drawing boos from the home faithful.

Beausejour gets to the byline but then sends his cross into row Z.

McArthur does well to win the ball down the right, but his cross is blocked. Stam picks it up and his cross appears to be met by a hand - to the crowd at least - but the ref doesn't deem it handball.

Cazorla finds Walcott in the area, but he's closed down quickly and his shot is blocked. Neat work from the Spaniard, though.

Di Santo receives the ball out on the left, beats Sagna to work an angle, but his centre curls past everyone and out of play.

Stam once more gets himself into an excellent position out on the right, but once more the cross is poor.

McArthur bends a pass out to Stam on the right, but the cross in the end fails to cause any problems.

McCarthy sends a long ball up, losing possession. There haven't been many long balls today - as Martinez noted ahead of the game, these are two teams with a similar philosophy.

Arteta bends the free-kick into the danger area but it's headed clear for a throw-in.

...but then the Ox wins a free-kick from Beausejour out on the right.

Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to wriggle past three or four Wigan players and, inevitably, fails.

KONE MISSES! Di Santo plays a wonderful ball through for Kone but, with only the goalkeeper to beat, the Wigan forward steers wide. That should have been the opener.

The Arsenal fans are now looking to give their team a bit of a lift during a lull in the game.

Beusejour looks to make something happen but Arsenal quickly snuff out the danger, as they have done throughout the game so far.

Gibbs races into the box and cuts back to Walcott, whose shot is blocked. That could easily have been the opener.

Beausejour swings in a cross but Szczesny is able to leave it to go behind.

Wilshere goes down after appearing to have his foot trodden on, but the ref's not interested.

The game's being played a decent tempo but just needs a bit of cutting-edge if we're to see the deadlock broken. Wigan in particular have struggled to turn their build-up play into anything more threatening.

Podolski works a bit of space on the edge of the area before letting fly with a shot that is always rising a ends up high and wide.

Maloney again goes on the attack, forcing the Arsenal defenders onto the backfoot, but his pass for Kone fails to bear fruit.

Di Santo flicks the ball cleverly towards Maloney, whose throughball is misread and collected by Szczesny.

Walcott slides in a dangerous-looking cross but Boyce is able to get it clear.

At the other end, Podolski unleashes a shot that Al Habsi is able to parry and then, a few seconds later, the German sees a shot blocked.

Kone looks to seize on a defensive error and charges at the Arsenal defence. However, when Stam is clear to his right, he attempts a shot from range that does nothing to threaten the keeper.

Arsenal once more fail to make anything of the corner.

CHANCE! Arteta finds Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box and the England winger's shot is pushed behind for a corner.

ESPN FC's Michael Wade tweets: "Cazorla's hat trick against Reading has commentators fawning all over him. Don't think it is that big an achievement myself."

Kone collects a pass over the top of the defence but he's offside. It's not been the tidiest of starts to the game but Wigan are starting to get a foothold.

Neither side is able to hold onto the ball in a lengthy spell in the middle fo the field, but Di Santo eventually has the chance to centre, although his cross is cleared.

Stam eventually gets a cross in but it's hooked clear by Arteta.

There's a cracking atmosphere at the DW Stadium as Wigan look to build an attack through Beausejour.

Arsenal fail to make anything of the corner.

Sagna just keeps the ball in play as he races along the line to earn a corner for the visitors.

Arsenal are looking comfortable, knocking the ball around in these early stages.

<b>KICK OFF</b> Wigan get the game underway!

Roberto Martinez has told Sky it's a "big, big challenge". Injuries have caused problems for the Wigan boss today, although he can at least include captain Gary Caldwell among the bench.

Interestingly, Wigan midfielder James McCarthy will - according to Sky Sports - be playing as Wigan's centre back.

Theo Walcott will once again play in the centre of the Arsenal attack, with Arsene Wenger having praised his efforts in the victory over Reading.

Hello and welcome.

Join us from 12.45 GMT for live text commentary of Arsenal's trip to Wigan as the Gunners look to build on their 5-2 victory at Reading on Monday.

Join us from 12.45 GMT for live text commentary of Arsenal's trip to Wigan as the Gunners look to build on their 5-2 victory at Reading on Monday.

Wilshere runs into traffic and loses possession.

Stam once more sends over a cross from the right that fails to find its target.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> McManaman is on for Di Santo.

Walcott curls the free-kick over the bar. Not a bad effort but Al Habsi was never troubled.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ramsey comes on for Oxlade-Chamberlain. The winger had been causing problems but Wenger may just want to settle things down at this stage.

Figueroa fouls Wilshere and Arsenal have a free-kick in a potentially dangerous area.

Oxlade-Chamberlain once more makes space for a cross, but Stam is able to head it away.

McArthur feeds Jones on the edge of the area and his shot bounces back off the stanchion.

Wigan get the corner - and a subsequent cross - clear and look to counter.

Oxlade-Chamberlain tries a speculative shot that is deflected behind for a corner.

Kone collects a pass from Beausejour, does brilliantly to make room for the shot, and then forces a save from the 'keeper.

The corner is cleared only as far as Figueroa, whose shot deflected off Arteta and nearly caught Szczesny out.

Beausejour sends in a decent cross and earns another corner.

The Di Santo sinbin explained: the ref noticed, during his chat, that the Argentine was wearing an earring and sent him off the field to remove it.

It's taken short and Jones ends up flicking it out of play.

Maloney sends in a cross that comes off Mertesacker for a corner.

Di Santo is finally allowed back on. We might need to wait until after the game to find out what happened there.

Wigan are still down to ten men - and the crowd are furious. Walcott, in the meantime, fails to make a chance count.

Di Santo is off the field for reasons no one seems to be able to understand.

Di Santo is penalised for a foul on Gibbs, and the ref has a word with him for his constant complaints. The home fans are not happy with the officiating today.

Podolski looks to feed the ball through for Gibbs, but it's overhit and the left-back can't latch onto it.

Wigan look to respond instantly, and McCarthy races at the defence before feeding Beausejour, who hits the ball across goal for a goal kick. Disappointing once more.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR ARSENAL!</b> The Spaniard makes no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Gibbs sends a long cross from the left that Walcott collects out on the right. After playing a one-two with Cazorla, he's bundled over by Beausejour. Arteta steps up...

<b>PENALTY TO ARSENAL!</b>

Gibbs chests the ball down to Szczesny, and it just has enough momentum to reach the goalkeeper.

Oxlade-Chamberlain swings another cross in and Arsenal win a corner. Once more, they're unable to make any real use of it.

Walcott is dispossessed as he attempts to turn and run.

Beausejour sends in a cross from the left that catches a few players on both sides out. Eventually, Maloney handballs and the Gunners win a free-kick.

Arsenal get a cross in from the right but it's out of play for a goal kick, seemingly bouncing off Podolski.

Cazorla wins a free-kick out on the left flank as Stam attempts a bit of skill that ends up with him losing possession.

Pododolski fails to clear the wall, and Oxlade-Chamberlain's blocked follow-up ends up with Al Habsi.

Oxlade-Chamberlain wins a slightly dubious free-kick as his flailing heel ctahces McCarthy as he takes a shot.

Figueroa, famed for his long-range goal against Stoke, attempts a speculative effort that never threatens to cause any problems.

AL HABSI SAVES FROM WALCOTT! Chamberlain cuts back for Walcott, who this time gets a shot away, but he's slightly off balance and the Wigan 'keeper is able to make the save. Great chance for the visitors.

McCarthy makes a burst into the box but takes a touch too many and Arsenal get it clear.

Maloney makes an impressive run down the left, beating Sagna, but Merteseacker shows enough tenacity to force a goal kick.

Oxlade-Chamberlain gets in behind the back after selling Beausejour a dummy before cutting back for Walcott, but Boyce makes a timely interception.

<b>ARSENAL GET THE SECOND HALF UNDERWAY</b>

ESPN's Janusz Michallik tweets: "Walcott can play as a striker but tons to learn. Forces some runs. Not instinctive."

Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp says it "does his head in" that tackles like that for which Wilshere was booked are considered verboten these days.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/1222/arsenalvwiganbattle20121222_275x155.jpg"><br>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jean Beausejour do battle.

The Wigan defence, despite the injury woes and McCarthy deployed out of position, can be very pleased with how they've handled this first half.

A fairly even first half, with both sides struggling to force any real chances. Arsenal, you suspect, would like to have Giroud available to give them another option.

<b>HALF-TIME</b>

Walcott looks to collect a pass over the top but has to settle for a throw-in. He's not had too much to work with in this first half.

Beausejour goes through but in the end can't seem to decide whether to cross or shoot and his effort is easily dealt with.

Oxlade-Chamberlain races down the right but Figueroa makes a strong challenge and it's a goal kick to Wigan.

McCarthy jumps up for a challenge and does Wilshere a bit of damage in the process. The ref's called a drop ball.

Di Santo tries his luck from range. While he catches it sweetly, it's comfortably over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Wilshere fouls Maloney and, amid calls for a red from the home fans, is shown yellow. It was one-footed and looked to be controlled.

The corner is hit deep but Wigan get it clear once more.

Arsenal look to have won a corner from Figueroa, but it hits the corner flag and goes for a throw-in. From the throw-in, Arsenal finally win a corner.

Maloney feeds Beausejour, but the linesman dubiously calls it offside.

A handball is given against Maloney in thw Wigan half, drawing boos from the home faithful.

Beausejour gets to the byline but then sends his cross into row Z.

McArthur does well to win the ball down the right, but his cross is blocked. Stam picks it up and his cross appears to be met by a hand - to the crowd at least - but the ref doesn't deem it handball.

Cazorla finds Walcott in the area, but he's closed down quickly and his shot is blocked. Neat work from the Spaniard, though.

Di Santo receives the ball out on the left, beats Sagna to work an angle, but his centre curls past everyone and out of play.

Stam once more gets himself into an excellent position out on the right, but once more the cross is poor.

McArthur bends a pass out to Stam on the right, but the cross in the end fails to cause any problems.

McCarthy sends a long ball up, losing possession. There haven't been many long balls today - as Martinez noted ahead of the game, these are two teams with a similar philosophy.

Arteta bends the free-kick into the danger area but it's headed clear for a throw-in.

...but then the Ox wins a free-kick from Beausejour out on the right.

Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to wriggle past three or four Wigan players and, inevitably, fails.

KONE MISSES! Di Santo plays a wonderful ball through for Kone but, with only the goalkeeper to beat, the Wigan forward steers wide. That should have been the opener.

The Arsenal fans are now looking to give their team a bit of a lift during a lull in the game.

Beusejour looks to make something happen but Arsenal quickly snuff out the danger, as they have done throughout the game so far.

Gibbs races into the box and cuts back to Walcott, whose shot is blocked. That could easily have been the opener.

Beausejour swings in a cross but Szczesny is able to leave it to go behind.

Wilshere goes down after appearing to have his foot trodden on, but the ref's not interested.

The game's being played a decent tempo but just needs a bit of cutting-edge if we're to see the deadlock broken. Wigan in particular have struggled to turn their build-up play into anything more threatening.

Podolski works a bit of space on the edge of the area before letting fly with a shot that is always rising a ends up high and wide.

Maloney again goes on the attack, forcing the Arsenal defenders onto the backfoot, but his pass for Kone fails to bear fruit.

Di Santo flicks the ball cleverly towards Maloney, whose throughball is misread and collected by Szczesny.

Walcott slides in a dangerous-looking cross but Boyce is able to get it clear.

At the other end, Podolski unleashes a shot that Al Habsi is able to parry and then, a few seconds later, the German sees a shot blocked.

Kone looks to seize on a defensive error and charges at the Arsenal defence. However, when Stam is clear to his right, he attempts a shot from range that does nothing to threaten the keeper.

Arsenal once more fail to make anything of the corner.

CHANCE! Arteta finds Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box and the England winger's shot is pushed behind for a corner.

ESPN FC's Michael Wade tweets: "Cazorla's hat trick against Reading has commentators fawning all over him. Don't think it is that big an achievement myself."

Kone collects a pass over the top of the defence but he's offside. It's not been the tidiest of starts to the game but Wigan are starting to get a foothold.

Neither side is able to hold onto the ball in a lengthy spell in the middle fo the field, but Di Santo eventually has the chance to centre, although his cross is cleared.

Stam eventually gets a cross in but it's hooked clear by Arteta.

There's a cracking atmosphere at the DW Stadium as Wigan look to build an attack through Beausejour.

Arsenal fail to make anything of the corner.

Sagna just keeps the ball in play as he races along the line to earn a corner for the visitors.

Arsenal are looking comfortable, knocking the ball around in these early stages.

<b>KICK OFF</b> Wigan get the game underway!

Roberto Martinez has told Sky it's a "big, big challenge". Injuries have caused problems for the Wigan boss today, although he can at least include captain Gary Caldwell among the bench.

Interestingly, Wigan midfielder James McCarthy will - according to Sky Sports - be playing as Wigan's centre back.

Theo Walcott will once again play in the centre of the Arsenal attack, with Arsene Wenger having praised his efforts in the victory over Reading.

Hello and welcome.

Join us from 12.45 GMT for live text commentary of Arsenal's trip to Wigan as the Gunners look to build on their 5-2 victory at Reading on Monday.

Join us from 12.45 GMT for live text commentary of Arsenal's trip to Wigan as the Gunners look to build on their 5-2 victory at Reading on Monday.