Wigan 0 Arsenal 0ALL THE talk had been of the contrasts between San Siro and the JJB Stadium, between the distinction of the Champions League and the scuffling of a seeming Premier League mismatch, between cerebral football and a bit of a dust-up in England's northwest.

The greatest discrepancy of all, though, was in the attitude of the two sets of opponents faced by Arsenal. Wigan, in that regard, were Milan's superiors and deserved the better result.

The visitors must have wished that Steve Bruce's side had been as riddled with anxiety over their status as the now deposed Champions League holders were last Tuesday. There was an uncomplicated determination to Wigan, although that factor had additional value because of their notorious surface that is damaged all the more by the rugby league team which shares the premises.

There were ridiculous moments, as when the ball leapt up in the air with a will of its own while Nicklas Bendtner was inside the penalty area, but Arsenal did have moves when passes were made precisely as intended. Thanks to the efforts of the Wigan goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, the manoeuvring came to nothing.

This was another of those occasions when the north is forbidding territory for Arsenal.

The result is no catastrophe considering that Wigan, far more effective since the appointment of Steve Bruce as manager, climbed to 13th in the league. Perhaps the challenge will be as stern when Manchester United come here on the final afternoon of the league season.

For the moment, though, the Old Trafford side will merely beam over the struggles of Wenger's side.

The visitors could have scored within seconds, but their openings were sporadic. In the first minute, Cesc Fabregas threaded the ball through to Emmanuel Adebayor, but Kirkland was equal to the shot.

"He's got to be an outstanding candidate," Bruce said of the goalkeeper's hopes of establishing himself with England. In the 90th minute, Kirkland was still denying the visitors when he blocked an attempt by Fabregas following a pass from Adebayor.

It was not the case, all the same, that Wigan spent the day quaking. Bruce marvelled at the transformation since a 4-1 defeat at Bolton in December.

The merits of Wigan are now apparent and the manager deplores the pitch, too, because he has in Antonio Valencia a player to take opponents on if only the turf were reliable. As it is, Bruce has to exercise patience and hope that the field can be remedied over five weeks in the summer. It is a measure of Wigan's advance that these issues occupy the mind more than relegation.

There were incidents here that suggested his side might sneak a win. Manuel Almunia, for instance, had to leap to his right to beat away Valencia's drive in the 64th minute.

It was a tense afternoon in which Arsenal felt the strain as much as Wigan. Fabregas was too highly strung when he reacted histrionically to a slight brush with Emile Heskey after 39 minutes.

The latter hurt his foot when he kicked the sole of William Gallas's boot at the end of the first half. Heskey was ultimately replaced but Wigan seem hopeful he has not broken a metatarsal, as he did earlier in this campaign.

Whatever other feelings they have about the JJB, Arsenal may have left it with a sense of improving health. Kolo Toure, injured since the first leg of the Champions League tie, came on in midfield during the second half and displayed his familiar energy.

There was also a return from the bench for Robin van Persie, following his thigh strain. He had not been in action since the home leg of the League Cup semi-final with Tottenham on January 9th.

The convalescence was not entirely happy. Bruce has thrived over the past three months and few visitors will leave Wigan feeling in prime condition.