Arsenal claim win at Wigan
Wednesday, 13 Dec 2006 22:51
Adebayor scored his fifth goal of the season to get Arsenal all three points
Emmanuel Adebayor eventually broke down Wigan's stern resistance to seal a 1-0 victory at the JJB Stadium - a win that sees them rise to third place in the Premiership.
Most of the best chances came in the second half with both sides guilty of being wasteful in front of goal before Adebayor's winner just two minutes from time.
Substitute Francesc Fabregas found the striker with a long searching pass from midfield and the Togo international was able to run on to it and stab the ball over Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal.
Emile Heskey had earlier wasted the Latics' best chance when he latched onto Henri Camera's well-timed ball. However, the former England man could only lob the ball into Jens Lehman's hands after it took a bobble.
Theo Walcott then raced down the wing and, despite having an excellent shooting opportunity himself, he unselfishly squared a pass to Adebayor who could not find the net.
Julio Baptista then tried his luck from a quickly taken free-kick but his cross fizzed past the post with his team-mates waiting for a ball into the centre of the area.
Adebayor missed another opportunity when he failed to knock in a rebound after Kirkland had saved from Freddie Ljungberg.
Carmera missed a chance to win it for Wigan with eight minutes remaining but his shot went inches over the bar - only for Adebayor to make up for his previous mistakes and grab the winner for the visitors minutes later.
The win was Arsenal's fourth away from home this season as they leapt into the Champions League qualifying places, while Wigan remain in 11th.