Wigan Athletic 1 Arsenal 0

Boss Paul Jewell was desperate to go to Highbury for the second leg in a fortnight with Wigan's hopes still alive.

And the £2.5million man, snapped up from Norwegian club Brann and playing his first game for six weeks, helped keep the dream alive with a late header against the club he idolised as a youngster.

Debut Goal: Scharner heads in the winner

It had been looking like a night to forget for the Latics. Disappointingly, the JJB stadium was less than half full for the club's first ever major semi-final.

Jewell's already stretched squad suffered more injury blows and in the second half the floodlights went out causing a 10 minute delay.

Thierry Henry - who scored two of Arsenal's goals in the 3-2 Premiership win at the JJB stadium in November - was given the night off and among those also given a rest were Robert Pires, Jens Lehmann and Sol Campbell.

But the Gunners had Freddie Ljungberg and Jose Antonio Reyes back to add all-important experience to a youthful looking side captained by Gilberto Silva.

Injuries had left Wigan with only 15 fit outfield players but 26-year-old Scharner was on the bench.

The Latics also had skipper Arjan De Zeeuw and midfielder Jimmy Bullard back after missing the FA Cup tie against Leeds.

But in a poor first half, there was only one real attempt on goal as Jewell faced more injury misery.

Arsenal had the first chance of the night but Ljungberg put it over the bar under pressure from Steve McMillan.

At the other end goalkeeper Manuel Almunia came to the rescue to deny Wigan the lead after playmaker Bullard was fouled by Kerrea Gilbert just outside the area.

Graham Kavanagh took responsibility for the free kick, cleverly curling it around the wall, but the keeper coped well with a tricky bounce to keep out the half's only on target effort.

A half-chance went begging for the Latics early in the second period when Swede Andreas Johansson provided a neat return ball for Jason Roberts, but the striker was slow to react and the ball was cleared.

After play had resumed following the brief blackout, Wigan threatened again with a De Zeeuw header but Ljungberg was on the line to get it away.

The stalemate was broken after 78 minutes when slack marking allowed Gary Teale time and space to pick up the throw from Pascal Chimbonda and fire the cross to the back post.

Scharner got up to get in the header and Almunia couldn't keep it out as Wigan secured the advantage ahead of the return trip to Highbury.