Two goals in two minutes saw Arsenal overcome a stubborn Wigan Athletic defense to consolidate its position at the top of the league table.

Wigan managed to keep out Arsenal for long periods of the game and just when it looked like the match was heading for a draw, William Gallas put the Gunners ahead, heading home at the near post with just seven minutes remaining. Tomas Rosicky doubled the lead two minutes later with a swift counter attack move to leave Arsenal three points clear at the top with a game in hand.

With new manager Steve Bruce watching from the stands, Wigan put up a brave display as they frustrated the Arsenal attack for long periods of the match. The visitors spent a major portion of the first half deep inside their own half as Arsenal pressed ahead in search of an early goal.

Arsene Wenger paired Denilson and Lassana Diarra in the midfield and Arsenal looked short of ideas in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Matthieu Flamini. However they soon managed to create a chance thanks to some slick move on the right wing by Theo Walcott who played in Adebayor but Mike Pollitt pulled off a brilliant save to deny the striker.

Emmanuel Eboue should have put Arsenal in the lead when he latched on to Walcott's cross but was unable to get his foot on the ball. Wigan were hanging on to the clean sheet and created chances of their own when Marcus Bent latched on to a mix-up between Kolo Toure and Gallas but saw his shot go wide of the target.

Gallas finally put Arsenal in the lead when he reached out to Bacary Sagna's cross to head home at the near post. Two minutes later a swift counter attack saw Rosicky double the lead and make sure of the result with five minutes remaining.