Wigan 0- Arsenal 4

Part of todays blogs has been kindly put together by Dan Bailey, Ian (his uncle) and Dan Littlechild (Dans B's lover)!

Catching the 8.30am train from Euston ( no i don't know why he caught the early train either) we settled ourselves in for the 3hr slog to Wigan - not suprisingly there were'nt that many Gooners on the train but that didn't stop me getting excited about Wigan!! Consumed a few beers on the way up - read the pre match blog - and arrived in Wigan around 10.30am to be met at the station glorious sunshine and cheerleaders  -, yeah right,  it was p#ssing down!!!

Wigans Finest?

We headed for the first cafe we would find and tucked into a full English for the princely sum of £4.00 - handsome it was then onto the Red Robin Pub

Nice couple of pints in there but as they weren't showing the early game on the box we did one and moved on to The Brickmakers Arms

Football was on , they had a pool table and got chatting to a couple of Wigan fans - good blokes, but very downbeat about their chances prior to the match and were even more down beat after we whipped their arses at pool - we knew it was going to be our day! Wigan lads were telling us that a season ticket at Wigan cost £250 for adult and £50 for a child!!! It works out cheaper to travel up by train to Wigan watch game and return back to London then it does to go to The Emirates ( but you wouldn't want to go to wigan every other week - once a year is enough) Also told us that when Spurs came up they didn't take their full allocation !!!

After knocking back our drinks we headed to the stadium - place was buzzing -away end was full and in good voice (at least 4500 i'd say) Wigan fans were disappointing and if it wasn't for the annoying drummer they'd have no support! Shame really - but it is a rugby town i suppose.

Game itself was good - without us really hitting the heights - but to have 4 different  goalscorers is great and does our goal difference a world of good - not going to comment too much on game as i'll leave that to talkinoutmyarse.

When RVP scored the shout went up "He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants, Van Perise he scores when he wants" - the man is on fire and deserved the goal for his all round effort.

Had to leave before end as had to catch 5.09 train back - so with Uncle in tow and my lover, we ran for the staion got lost 3 times, waved at the cheerleaders who were still there and got on the train!!! Managed to get into first class where met some great lads from Essex ( thats what away games are all about - the craic) had a good old drink and sing song with them          " We'll sit where we want, well sit where we want, we are Arsenal, we'll sit where we want" was one of our better efforts - that good it cleared the carriage of passengers so we had it all to ourselves!! - Back into Euston for about 7.30 - home, and in my local for 8pm - great day all round and great support.

Thanks Dan

The game itself

Previous years have seen Mr Wenger take this game too lightly, but obviously after reading the pre match blog from The Eaglet Has Landed N7 - he started with his stongest line up - however we started a bit sloppily and if it wasn;t for Santos timely intervention we could have found ourselves one nil down - but we didn't and a specualtive 25 yarder from Arteta seemed to pass through the hands of the Wigan keeper to put The Arsenal one up - within a couple of minutes it was 2-0 . The ever impressive Vermaelens headed home from a corner - the first goal from 179 corners!!

Having been in this position before it was vital to get a 3rd and it was down to Gervinho to finish off a fine 33 pass move - have a look -    Gervinhos Goal

For his massive heed - found in changing room after game

RVP sealed the win with a 4th - just reward for a tireless performance. Thought Mr Wenger may have brought him off but kept him on to the end - and made 3 substitutions all at the same time on the 80th minute - Song, Walcott and Gervinho off, Arshavin, Coquelin and Benayoun on.

Szczesny is slowly becoing a cult hero and led the singing with the fans after the game - nice touch- Szczesny Singing

Overall, very satisfactory - rest all of em mid week, wrap RVP in bubble wrap and bring on Everton next week

Up The Arse

Apologies for the lazy blog -over celebrated the win down The Loop Bar, London with a certain Andy Wadding - those looking for a good night out - go there - behind Bond Street - so the blog is a bit lazy.