But from the minute Jordi Gomez allowed Thomas Vermaelen to walk past him and slip Mikael Arteta in for a 20 yard thunderbolt, it was always going to be a big uphill struggle.
When you play the top teams the game can turn on a knife edge and Gomez's inability to challenge Arsenal's centre half was such an incident.
Arsene Wenger's men swiftly followed it up with another soft goal from a set piece and it was game over.
The game had started with so much hope and optimism. The first fifteen minutes were like the Latics of old with good pressure on the ball, and enough about us to create some problems for Arsenal.
Once again the illustrious, marmite man, of a Spaniard turned the game. With James McCarthy and Momo Diame left chasing shadows in the centre of the field, Gomez was free to glide around the centre of the park, unshackled by even the slightest glimpse of defensive responsibility.
It was annoying to watch as a Wigan supporter. The is no doubting how Gomez is a fine player in possession of the ball and his performance as recently against both Sunerland and Blackburn has shown just what he is capable of.
But the way he let down both his team mates and the supporters against the Gunners eluded to tthe fact that he is a luxury we cannot afford against the bigger teams.
The problems stemmed out from here. Conor Sammon was left isolated up front and Victor Moses once again drifted out of the game. Momo Diame and James McCarthy took of the work of four men, whilst Ronnie Stam and David Jones were pinned back as full backs in a back five.
It must be said, and remembered, that Arsenal at home is not going to be the bread and butter for Wigan Athletic, but such games offer a good yard stick as to what we have in the tank.
Arsenal were made to look like world beaters by a Wigan Athletic team that allowed two very soft first half goals to find their way into the back of the net.
If we are going to pull away from the relegation zone it is imperetive that we learn to be difficult to beat. With games against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea all still to come in December what better a time to work on that quality.
