Bendtner 67

Arsenal secured a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals with a routine victory over EPL strugglers Wigan at the Emirates.

A goal in each half saw off the Latics, and Arsenal squandered chances to give the scoreline a more emphatic look, with Mexican striker Carlos Vela a particular culprit.

Victor Moses fired into the Arsenal side-netting in the eighth minute. But Wigan’s attacking threat all-but-disappeared after he was stretchered off on 39 minutes.

Vela had already fired one golden opportunity wide after being sent clear by Robin Van Persie’s deft flick.

But the Gunners took a 42^nd minute lead when Antonio Alcaraz headed Theo Walcott’s left-wing corner into his own net from the edge of the six-yard box.

Vela made up for earlier misses midway through the second half when his low, curling cross from the left set-up a close-range finish for Danish centre-forward Nicklas Bendtner.

The roles were reversed moments later when Vela fired over from Bendtner’s pass. And the little Mexican then shot at keeper Ali Al Habsi when set up by Theo Walcott.

Samr Nasri came closest to a third goal, in stoppage time, when he rounded Al Habsi but saw his shot cleared off the line.