Gunners' spot-kick sinks battling Wigan

MIKEL Arteta's controversial penalty gave Arsenal a hard-fought 1-0 victory over struggling Wigan at the DW Stadium yesterday.

The three points lifted Arsene Wenger's team into third place in the Premier League table, though Chelsea and Tottenham can both climb back above the Gunners with wins this weekend.

But the narrowness of the margin reflected the considerable contribution of Wigan, who did not look like a team languishing third from bottom, and another erratic performance from Arsenal.

Arsenal's third successive league win was secured by a second-half penalty converted by Spanish midfielder Arteta after Jean Beausejour challenged Theo Walcott from behind.

Wigan were hardly tentative in their approach despite the disparity between the teams' league positions, and Martinez sent out an attacking line-up.

Arsenal had an early scare when Arouna Kone was flagged marginally offside from James McArthur's pass as Wigan took the game to Arsenal.

Santi Carzola, their hat trick hero in Monday's 5-2 win at Reading, produced a fabulous pass to send Arteta surging through the middle to threaten Ali Al Habsi's goal.

At the other end Kone, heading for the Africa Cup of Nations next month with Ivory Coast, slipped past two tackles but elected to shoot from long range and gave Wojciech Szczesny a routine save.

Lukas Podolski saw his fierce shot beaten out by Al Habsi and Boyce was obliged to clear Cazorla's low raking cross soon after.

Franco Di Santo's fine backheel set up a one-two with Shaun Maloney but his team-mate's return was too far ahead and Szczesny got there first.

After 23 minutes Di Santo conjured the pass of the game, a brilliant effort from inside his own half that allowed Kone to get the advantage over Per Mertesacker, only for the striker to pull his shot wide when Szczesny rushed out.

Ronnie Stam did cut in after a good Wigan passing move but his weak shot was easily smothered at the near post.

Jack Wilshere became the first player in the referee's book but was unlucky to be penalised for what replays showed to be a perfectly fair tackle on Maloney.

Al Habsi marked his 100th appearance for Wigan with a marvellous save from Walcott to prevent Arsenal taking the lead after 48 minutes.

But when the Gunners did take the lead on the hour, Walcott was at the centre of things as he went down in the penalty area under minimal contact from Beausejour.

Referee Jon Moss had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Arteta stepped up to send Al Habsi the wrong way.

Wigan's response suggested an equaliser might be on the cards, but Maynor Figueroa's shot was saved and Kone had one beaten out by Szczesny.