Live Commentary: Wigan 0-1 Arsenal - as it happened

Arsenal have moved into third place with a 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's second-half penalty secured the points that condemn the Latics to another week in the Premier League's bottom three.

You can read how all the action unfolded below.

2.40pmIt's a victory for Arsenal. They were much the better team in the second half, but Wigan will feel that a point was deserved. They just lacked a cutting edge in attack and failed to effectively test Wojciech Szeczesny.

2.38pmFull time: Wigan 0-1 Arsenal

90+3 minGomez just stumbles at a vital moment with the ball at his feet just outside Arsenal's area.

90+2 minWigan are looking for an opening on the edge of Arsenal's area. The ball eventually breaks for McArthur to strike, but it bobbles wide of Szczesny's goal.

90+1 minArsenal substitution: Santi Cazorla is withdrawn for Laurent Koscielny.

90+1 minGomez strikes at goal and there are appeals for handball, but nothing given!

90 minThere's going to be a minimum of four minutes added on at the end of this game.

88 minWigan substitution: Jordi Gomez comes on for Shaun Maloney.

86 minMaloney, having just been booked for a push on Coquelin, now has a nip at the Frenchman's heels and is penalised once more. He'll have to be careful.

86 minMcArthur had a decent shooting opportunity then but tries to play in Beausejour out wide. The move broke down.

83 minMcManaman thinks that he has won another corner, but the referee points for a goal kick.

82 minRamsey concedes a corner.

82 minFigueroa strikes at goal as the corner is half cleared, but blazes over the bar.

81 minStam gets in behind the Arsenal defence and advances on goal. He tries to square it for Kone but Mertesacker is on hand to knock it behind for a corner.

81 minSagna makes a lung-busting run forward but it's wasted as he brings down Figueroa. Wigan look to come forward...

80 min10 minutes to go...

78 minArsenal substitution: Francis Coquelin comes on for Lukas Podolski.

77 minAnother poor delivery by Ronnie Stam.

76 minWigan substitution: Franco di Santo comes off to be replaced by Callum McManaman.

75 minWalcott clips a free kick over the bar. It never really troubled Al-Habsi.

75 minArsenal substitution: Aaron Ramsey replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

73 minSHOT! Wigan go forward once more. Jones feeds Beausejour, who finds McArthur inside the area. He tees up Jones, who strikes it fiercely... but just wide.

71 minWalcott drifts it in, but Jones heads clear.

71 minOxlade-Chamberlain wins a corner for Arsenal.

70 minSAVE! Kone latches onto a through ball from Beausejour, and he shows power in holding off two defenders before shooting at Szczesny, but the Pole saves well. Wigan are exerting a bit of pressure now...

70 minFigueroa has a pop from distance but it slides cleanly through to Szczesny.

69 minMertesacker concedes a corner.

69 minSky Sports News pitch-side reporter says that Di Santo was ordered off the field to take out his earring and wasn't allowed back on until a break in play.

67 minThat's whipped the crowd into action. They're urging their team forward. Gunners are having to spend a bit of time in their own half at the moment.

66 minFinally, the ball goes out of play and the Argentine is allowed back on. Strange. Very strange.

64 minFranco di Santo isn't being allowed back onto the field for some reason and the crowd are incandescent with rage.

60 minBeausejour tries to redeem himself. He received the ball just inside the area, but his shot is woeful at best. It sails far wide of Szczesny's goal.

59 minThe Spaniard sends Al-Habsi the wrong way!

59 minGOAL! Wigan 0-1 Arsenal (Arteta)

59 minCazorla and Walcott link up beautifully, and the latter goes down under the challenge of Beausejour. There was slight contact, and it probably was a penalty.

58 minPENALTY TO ARSENAL!

55 minFigueroa clears Oxlade-Chamberlain's near-post cross. The Gunners have started the half brightly once again.

54 minOxlade-Chamberlain sends a deep ball into the box but Podolski cannot get on the end of it.

53 minStam tries a back heel but kicks the ball against his standing foot. He then brings down Cazorla as he attempts to wrestle the ball back. He's not having a good day.

52 minPodolski fires the ball into the wall. What a waste.

51 minOxlade-Chamberlain wins a free kick for Arsenal. Arteta and Podolski conspire from around 35 yards out.

48 minSAVE! Cazorla slips Oxlade-Chamberlain in once more and this time his cutback is a good one, but Al-Habsi denies Walcott from close range! Great stop!

47 minMaloney bursts into the box but his cross is a poor one and goes out for a goal kick.

46 minBrilliant turn by Oxlade-Chamberlain outfoxes Beausejour but his cutback to Walcott lacked a bit of zip and Boyce was able to clear the ball.

45 minArsenal kickoff the second half...

1.46pmRonnie Stam has been disappointing for Wigan today. Three times he's had the opportunity to deliver the ball into the box, and failed miserably each time. They can ill afford to waste many more of those opportunities, should the situation present itself again.

1.43pmDespite Arsenal's early dominance of possession, they only ended up with 51% by the end of the half. That's testament to Wigan's work rate this afternoon, as they have been dogged in midfield and not allowed the Gunners a moment's rest, although they are lacking somewhat of a creative spark.

1.40pmWigan should really be in front. Arouna Kone spurned the best chance of the game when he was sent racing clear by Di Santo. The Ivorian's finish left some to be desired, though, as he dragged his shot wide of Szezesny's goal.

1.36pmYou can read Sports Mole's Half-Time Report by clicking here.

1.35pmWell it ends all square after 45 minutes at the DW Stadium. It's a finely poised contest between these two sides after an even first half. It's been a good old-fashioned game, with plenty of full-blooded challenges on a greasy surface. Three points are there for the taking for one of these teams....

1.32pmHalf time: Wigan 0-0 Arsenal

44 minMaloney returns the favour to Wilshere now with a little kick to his shins.

42 minThere is a bit of an edge to the game now. The crowd are shouting for everything.

40 minJack Wilshere receives a yellow card for a heavy tackle on Maloney. The Scot jumped up straight away, indignant with the England international. Both players were fully committed to winning the ball. The crowd chanted "OFF! OFF! OFF!"... but the yellow card was the right call.

38 minMaloney frees Beausejour down the left but the play is brought back for offside. Replays showed that it was marginal, but it was the right decision... just.

35 minIt's certainly a clash of styles here at the DW Stadium. High work rate and commitment from Wigan, while Arsenal are trying to knock it around and probe for an opening. The Latics have the upper hand at the moment, though.

33 minWalcott makes half a yard for himself inside the area but can't quite squeeze a shot off. Cazorla with the through ball.

33 minJones is penalised for a foul on Arteta.

30 minStam has another chance to deliver a telling cross but, for the third time, he fails. Disappointing.

28 minMcArthur sprays a wonderful ball out to Stam with the outside of his right foot, but the Dutch full-back can't beat Gibbs and only succeeds in firing his cross to Szczesny at the near post.

27 minDi Santo is running up front.

26 minHe does, but it's headed out for a throw. Arsenal retain possession.

26 minBeausejour brings down Oxlade-Chamberlain for a free kick to Arsenal. Arteta looks like he's going put this into the box...

23 minCHANCE! Di Santo sets Kone racing clear but the Ivorian scuffs wide with his left foot when one on one with Szczesny! Terrible finish! A let off for the Gunners...

22 minMcCarthy has been everywhere for Wigan so far.

19 minGibbs drives into Wigan's area and lays the ball back for Walcott, but his shot is blocked. It was a half-chance, but there were a few players between him and the goal, giving him little to aim at.

18 minBeausejour tries to get down the outside of Sagna but the French full-back marshals the ball off him excellently.

17 minWilshere was afforded far too much space just inside Wigan's final third but a poor touch just takes the ball away from him as he advanced towards the penalty area.

15 minWigan can't seem to keep hold of the ball at the moment, but their closing down and tackling is ferocious. Has all the ingredients for a 'proper' match this.

13 minMcArthur just waited too long on the ball and Wilshere was after him like a shot. Tenacious play from the normally-mercurial midfielder.

12 minArsenal just knocking on the door here. They look bright enough going forward, plenty of options.

11 minSHOT! Podolski has a dip but there's little power on it. Al-Habsi punches clear.

10 minDavid Jones is sticking tight to Jack Wilshere. Martinez has certainly identified who he thinks the Gunners' dangermen are.

9 minSAVE! A lovely pass from Cazorla gave Arteta the chance to burst into Wigan's half. The Spaniard played the ball wide to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who shot at goal... but Al-Habsi got a strong hand behind it to push it round the post.

8 minStam tries to whip a ball into the area but spoons it out of play.

7 minMcArthur clips a ball through to Kone, who brings it down with one touch... but the linesman's flag is up.

4 minDi Santo gets down the right and fires a ball into the area that Vermaelen hacks clear.

3 minFrom the way Wigan have set up, it looks like Roberto MArtinez is concerned about the threat of Santi Cazorla. James McCarthy is just sitting in the hole between defence and midfield, keeping a tight rein on the Spaniard.

1 minWalcott drifts it into the near post but McCarthy heads clear.

1 minSagna wins a corner for Arsenal.

0 minIt's a very greasy surface, which should suit Arsenal's passing style.

0 minWigan get this game underway...

12.43pmThe players are out on the pitch for the customary pre-match handshake. It's a cold and wet afternoon in Lancashire.

12.40pmWe're now just five minutes from kickoff at the DW Stadium.

12.36pmThe spotlight is bound to be on Theo Walcott today as speculation regarding his future continues to rumble on. The 23-year-old is believed to be stalling on a new contract in a scene reminiscent of Robin van Persie's (and others') recent exits. Walcott's contract expires at the end of this season, meaning that there's reason for haste in tying him to a new deal.

12.33pmT'is the season, after all...

12.32pmMore from Ollie Holt: "Arsenal have sold out their end at Wigan and club is giving each of their 4,600 fans here a Â£10 food and drink voucher to spend at Emirates."

12.26pmIt's absolutely chucking it down in Wigan today, as I'm sure it is around the country. There have been a few postponements in the lower leagues already, but thankfully not at the DW Stadium. Here is The Mirror's chief sports writer Ollie Holt describing the scene on Twitter: "At DW Stadium. Surprised in some ways that the game is on. Impressive job by the groundstaff because rain here has been torrential. Some of access roads outside the stadium are under water. One of the roundabouts at retail park like a river crossing. Still raining hard."

12.23pmEverton face West Ham United at Upton Park, and could also find themselves occupying a spot in the top four by the end of play today.

12.20pmThree points this afternoon will see Arsenal into third place, but Spurs kick off against Stoke at 3pm, so it could be a short-lived stay.

12.17pmClick here for full team news from the DW Stadium.

12.13pmIt's also a big day for Ali Al-Habsi, who makes his 100th appearance for Wigan today.

12.11pmFive young Gunners put pen to paper on new deals this week, so there may be a feel-good factor coursing through their dressing room today. However, Theo Walcott was not one of those signing on the dotted line, and his future still hangs in the balance...

12.06pmWigan have won just one of their last seven games, but Arsenal have won just one of their last five Premier League away games.

12.02pmIt's an unchanged lineup for Arsenal, which features Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott. Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez makes three changes from last weekend. Mauro Boselli and Jordi Gomez drop to the bench, with Franco di Santo, Shaun Maloney and David Jones coming in.

11.57pmARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott

11.56pmWIGAN XI: Al-Habsi, Kone, McCarthy, Jones, Di Santo, Maloney, McArthur, Boyce, Beausejour, Stam, Figueroa

11.56pmTeam news just in...

11.54pmHowever, they haven't got the best of records at home against the Gunners, winning just one of their seven meetings. That was a 3-2 victory in April 2010, when Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and Charles N'Zogbia scored in the final 10 minutes to complete a comeback from two goals down.

11.51pmRoberto Martinez's men are looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Norwich City, and hope to avoid what would be a fourth defeat in five games.

11.48pmToday we're at the DW Stadium for Wigan Athletic vs. Arsenal. It's a crucial fixture at both ends of the table, as the Latics battle the drop once again, while Arsenal strive for a a top-four finish.

11.47pmGood afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of the Premier League!