Arsenal start dully, fade and then finally turn up

Arsenal had played the first half either with a hangover, or perhaps they were resting in advance for Bolton, either way it was Wigan that benefited. Meanwhile Djourou went off with a broken nose, I am not saying it was deliberate but Heskey is lot more accurate when it comes to hitting noses than the back of the net.

As the second half resumed Kirkland decided to play for time (actually he started at 40 minutes), something the referee refused to do anything about. Arsenal still played without any finesse or conviction, too many players were off top form.

Arsenal were doing most of the attacking, but they still did not seem likely to score. When Djourou went off in the first half he was replaced with Adebayor, then on 67 minutes Flamini and Aliadiere replaced Walcott and Hoyte. With Baptista, Henry, and Adebayor already on the field this was a team built for all out attack, and that's exactly what it did.

Adebayor was first to put the ball in the net with 18 minutes to go, but celebrations were short lived as it was ruled off side. With ten minutes to go some of the crowd were jockeying for the best position in the mile long Arsenal Underground Queue Stakes.

However most of the crowd remained and was urging the team on. At 81 minutes Flamini sent an excellent low cross through Wigan’s area, Henry tried to reach it but Hall got there first, different team, same result, an Arsenal equaliser.

As Arsenal regrouped for the kick off Henry took the opportunity to let Kirkland know what he thought of him, and his incessant time wasting, he mockingly offered him the ball, as if to say "waste time now you bastard". The hypocrites of the press will have a field day denouncing Henry. Of course they won’t denounce Kirkland’s time wasting. That’s what fans pay to see isn’t it? Time wasting a real crowd puller.

I am glad Henry showed a bit of attitude, it shows that he still has fire in his belly for this club. He got a yellow for it, so what more needs to be said?

On 85 minutes Kirkland had further reason to reflect on his time wasting antics as an Adebayor pass sent Baptista into the right side of the area. The Beast crossed for Rosicky to stun Wigan with a powerful header. The crowd went wild, what a roar, almost as loud as it was for Manchester United. What a great idea, deter the early leavers by not turning up for 80 minutes, then play brilliantly for the last ten.

No question now that Wigan did not want to waste time, defenders were substituted by attackers. As Lehmann went to take a goal kick the crowd ironically urged him to switch the kick to the far side. Mad Jens always up for a laugh obliged, amazingly Mr Paul Dowdy, gave Jens a yellow. Unbelievable!

After the match Wenger pointed out that Arsenal get one yellow per minute of wasted time, whilst the opposition only get one yellow per twenty minutes. Or was that fouls?

Meanwhile Paul Jewell was giving hard luck stories to anyone prepared to listen. Personally I don’t give a shit about any of them, true or false I don’t care. If you can't beat a team that gives you a goal start, and doesn’t really turn up for 70 minutes then you deserve everything you get.

Cheer up Paul at least you have won the Barclay Premiership Time Wasting Arseholes of the Month Award.