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The new manager effect also seemed in view, with many of the squad out performing their levels of the past two months and pushing a good Arsenal side to the limit. Only two last grasp goals sealing victory for the Gunners.
Here is what the respective bosses had to say.
Frank Barlow
The boss came down to see them earlier, and I think that gave them a lift. The response they got from that was quite positive, so we hope we can build on that this week and get some results in the weeks that come.
It is a big job. I think that anything's a big job, and I think that you can go to half a dozen managers in the Premier League and we all know we're fighting for survival, so it's not an easy task and it's the same for all the other managers in there.
But I think it's well within the capabilities of the club to stay in the league. The performance today gives our supporters belief that we have passion for the shirt and we want to play.
Steve can get a certain amount of encouragement from that. He has to build on that. You want to bring your own man and if Eric (Black) comes in then he comes. That is Steve's decision and won't lose my friendship from him.
Wigan played well defensively. We needed something special and some patience to find an opening, and Gallas found it. He is a forgotten centre-forward because he knows where to be in the box and he can always turn up with a goal when you need it.
Once again we found the resources to win the game. It is not the first time, so I do not feel it is a coincidence. I must say I was surprised how long they did last without giving us an inch and how tight they could mark for 90 minutes.
It was amazing and the real opening came only once we had scored. Once again we kept patience and had to speed the game up. It [three point gap] is good for us because it strengthens our belief that we can compete at the top and we need that.
We have a strong December and every point we can be ahead at the moment can be very good for us.