“ONE-NIL’” to the Arsenal could hardly be a chorus of acclaim. Less than a month ago, Wigan came here and lost humiliatingly 3-0 to a young Arsenal reserve team. On this occasion, they could not complain about being beaten but there were times when they might have snatched a draw and there was nothing of the triumphal in the Gunners’ performance.

Arsenal, you might say, had their wings clipped. You could see all too clearly how badly they miss Theo Walcott’s dynamism and pace on the right flank. On the left flank, the young French international, Samir Nasri began brightly enough, but he had to be substituted on 33 minutes following a foul by Wilson Palacios, who was yellow-carded for the offence.

In his place, somewhat surprisingly, Arsenal brought on Emmanuel Eboue, essentially an attacking right-back or midfielder who was himself substituted in injury time. On the right flank throughout they had the Brazilian Denilson, who was capable of a perceptive pass but lacked the change of pace or the skills of a natural winger. What a pity that Arsène Wenger did not send on the wonderfully precocious Jack Wilshere, who is yet to turn 17. For Wilshere is a natural winger whose footwork and inspired impudence belie his age and size.

The only goal came on 16 minutes, scored by the powerful Emmanuel Adebayor. When Cesc Fabregas, always busily inventive, looped the ball into the box Alex Song and Titus Bramble tussled for it but it only found its way through to Adebayor who shot past Chris Kirkland.

Right at the end of the first half Arsenal and Adebayor should have doubled their score. Eboue and Denilson set up the big striker whose low shot was turned desperately onto the post by a full length Kirkland.

Wigan never mastered Robin Van Persie, Adebayor’s partner in attack. He should have had at least one second-half goal had his finishing been more accurate. Seven minutes into the second half, the Dutchman, in an inside right position and receiving from Fabregas, broke clear of Wigan’s defence but shot wide of the left-hand post with his right foot. Had the ball been on his left, so much the more powerful of the two, he surely would have scored. A couple of minutes later, from Van Persie’s in-swinging left-footed corner, Bacary Sagna connected at the near post with a header, but Kirkland dealt with it well.

Van Persie continued to threaten the Wigan goal without managing to make it fall. On 59 minutes, this time with a left-foot shot, he was again wide of the target. Four minutes later and he was racing through down the right flank — with shades of Walcott — with a palpable chance of a shot on goal but he was brought down on the edge of the box. He then fired the free kick wide.

On 66 minutes, there was a narrow escape for Wigan when Denilson beat Kirkland from some 20 yards out with a ferocious drive, only for the ball to rebound from the foot of the left-hand post. Yet as we know so well, it is always dangerous in football to make and miss so many chances. Arsenal were certainly living perilously when on 70 minutes Wigan so easily could have equalised.

When the ball found its way into the box to Mario Melchiot, who had ventured into attack from his full-back position, he got in his shot but Manuel Almunia was impressively equal to it. Arsenal responded in the only way they know: attack. Right to the end Van Persie and Adebayor were threatening the Wigan goal, but 1-0 it would remain.

We were almost into injury time when Wenger surprisingly pulled off his substitute Eboue. “I think he had completely lost confidence,” said Wenger. “He couldn’t keep the ball any more and became a danger. I feel it was very sad but it was most important that the team win.”

Wigan’s manager, Steve Bruce, was adamant that his team should have got a point. “We deserved something out of it,” he said. “That lucky break of the ball! We were always dangerous with the ball. You’ve got to give credit to our lads as well, especially the midfield to get amongst them.”

And what about that 3-0 rout by Arsenal’s reserves? “Today we more than made up for it,” said Bruce. “We deserved to get something out of it to put the record straight, because last time we didn’t play nearly as well as we did today.” But arguably, nor did Arsenal play as well as their reserves.

Star man: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)

Yellow cards: Arsenal: Van Persie

Wigan: Palacios, Figueroa

Referee: S Bennett

Attendance: 59,317

ARSENAL: Almunia 7, Sagna 6, Toure 7, Djourou 6, Clichy 6, Denilson 6, Fabregas 7, Song Billong 6, Nasri (Eboue 32min, 5 Silvestre 90min), Van Persie 7, Adebayor 7

WIGAN: Kirkland 7, Taylor 6, Boyce 6 (Kilbane 63min), Bramble 6, Figueroa 6, Valencia 6, Palacios 6, Cattermole 6 (Koumas 77min), Melchiot 6, Heskey 6, Camara 6 (Zaki 66min).