Adebayor continues to make striking Statement in the absence of Henry
Paul Jewell, the Wigan Athletic manager, borrowed from the tactical blueprint that has earned Bolton Wanderers such success against Wenger's team in recent seasons, imploring his full backs to pump high balls into the penalty area at every opportunity, but this time Arsenal's young central defenders stood firm.
Kolo Touré and Johan Djourou were outstanding and, after they withstood that first-half assault, a more open second period ended with F àbregas, who had been on the pitch a matter of minutes, setting up Adebayor for the only goal of the evening with two minutes remaining.
The Independent
Jewell's misery as Adebayor seals smash and grab raid for Arsenal
Wigan initially took the game to the visitors, Emile Heskey and Camara going close in the opening nine minutes, but a start that promised rich entertainment proved sadly misleading for the remainder of a lifeless first half.
Fortunately the second half offered a stark contrast, with Heskey and Baptista failing to convert fine chances in the opening three minutes. In fairness to the previously maligned Arsenal man, he was denied by the first of several impressive saves by Chris Kirkland rather than poor finishing, although his Wigan counterpart could not claim the same.
The Guardian
Adebayor reminds Arsenal how to win the Hard Way
Wigan wailed at the loss, their first-half dominance eroded by the concession, but for Wenger this represented real progress. "A year ago we'd have lost that game 1-0, but we won it this time because we've learned a little better how to deal with what kind of threat teams like Wigan pose," said the Frenchman. "We've played better 'combination' football than tonight, but I like it when my team can win like this as well. That's what we've missed."
Twice Lee McCulloch might have earned Wigan a first-half lead only to see his attempts suffocated. When Emile Heskey burst on to Henri Camara's pass in the opening exchange of the second period only to fluff his shot, the ball bobbling unkindly for a relieved Jens Lehmann to gather, the sight of Paul Jewell wincing at the waste reflected the hosts' anxiety. Immediately, Arsenal stirred and, for 15 minutes, Wigan were cut to shreds.
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