Wigan Athletic 3 Arsenal 2:Arsenal's title hopes are all but over after a dramatic fightback from Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium left the Gunners shell-shocked. Arsene Wenger's side led by two goals with 10 minutes to go but inexplicably capitulated and conceded three, with Charles N'Zogbia scoring a classy winner in the 90th minute.
Arsenal were coasting to victory on the back of goals either side of half-time from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre, and were on the verge of hauling themselves to within three points of leaders Chelsea.
But after a run of eight defeats and a draw in the league against Arsenal, Wigan added to their debut wins over Chelsea and Liverpool this season as Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and N'Zogbia conjured an astonishing comeback.
With three games to go, the Gunners are now six behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and five adrift of Manchester United.
Afterwards, Wenger slated his side for a lack of discipline and focus.
“I believe we were not focused, not disciplined and were caught,” he said. “In football you have to stay focused for 90 minutes otherwise you run the risk of being punished.
“That is especially the case against a team with nothing to lose, fighting not to go down. You knew they would not give up, and in the end we were punished for that.
“Even at 2-0 I never thought the game was over. I could see we were having difficulties keeping the ball, creating other chances, and when you do not create chances in football you are in trouble.
“After going 2-0 up our game lacked cohesion and discipline, and I always felt we could be punished.”
Wenger refused to divulge what he told his players after the loss, but called on them to get abck to winning ways immediately to fend off the challenge of Spurs and Manchester City.
“My target is to win the next game, that’s all we can do,” added Wenger. “Manchester City and Spurs can still catch us, so we have to win at least one of our remaining games.”
Wigan defender Mario Melchiot pointed to the inspirational words of manager Roberto Martinez as the catalyst for the Latics’ remarkable win.
He told Sky Sports: “At half-time the gaffer said ‘keep going guys, I believe in you and you can do it’, and that made a difference.
“I was happy that we kept going and Charlie [N’Zogbia] got a magnificent goal.”
Asked what the win would do for the Lancashire club, the Dutchman added: “It’s very big. It’s going to make a a lot of difference to the morale of the team and those who come and see us.”
Central defender Bramble, who profited from a glaring error from Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to nod the equaliser in the final minute, hailed the battling spirit of his side.
“It shows what great commitment we have,” said Bramble.
Commenting on his own goal, he added: “The keeper’s pushed it in the air and I got the rebound — thankfully it crossed the line.”
Next up for Wigan is a game at fourth-bottom West Ham next Saturday which could secure the Latics’ place at English football’s top table, and Bramble warned his side cannot afford to rest easy while it is still mathematically possible to go down.
“We’ve got a massive game next week and we celebrate today, but we’ve got to prepare for next week,” he said.