Simple. But for Arsenal, that hasn't been the case. Every time their fans have started to accept that they won't be winning the league this season, they have received a fresh snifter of hope – an email, a word on the grapevine that the special person has been asking after you, a text with an X on the end!!!!
On at least four occasions, Arsenal have been formally scrubbed out of the title race, like that bloke in Amelie solemnly deleting his dead friend from his address book, but they now have a bit of hope after Chelsea's defeat yesterday. It remains the longest of long shots – because of their inferior goal difference, Arsenal need to win all their games and hope that Chelsea drop at least four points and Manchester United at least three – but where there is a shot, there is hope. And, as we all know, that's the most dangerous thing of all.
Wigan 3-2 Arsenal - as it happened
Wigan scored three times in the last 10 minutes to claim an astonishing victory and end Arsenal's title challenge
Premier League
| Wigan Athletic 3 |
|
|---|---|
| Arsenal 2 |
|
- guardian.co.uk, Sunday 18 April 2010 12.49 BST
- Article history
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Titus Bramble fouls Theo Walcott. Photograph: John Walton/Empics Sport
Simple. But for Arsenal, that hasn't been the case. Every time their fans have started to accept that they won't be winning the league this season, they have received a fresh snifter of hope – an email, a word on the grapevine that the special person has been asking after you, a text with an X on the end!!!!
On at least four occasions, Arsenal have been formally scrubbed out of the title race, like that bloke in Amelie solemnly deleting his dead friend from his address book, but they now have a bit of hope after Chelsea's defeat yesterday. It remains the longest of long shots – because of their inferior goal difference, Arsenal need to win all their games and hope that Chelsea drop at least four points and Manchester United at least three – but where there is a shot, there is hope. And, as we all know, that's the most dangerous thing of all.
Arsenal simply must win today. For Wigan, the more important games are to come: West Ham away next weekend, and particularly Hull at home on May Bank Holiday Monday. Wigan are four points clear of Hull, but their run-in is much harder and they've only won three of the last 20. They don't need to win today, but a sly point certainly wouldn't go amiss. I think Wigan have got real problems. I hope they don't go down, because they do things the right way and, whatever happens in today's game, it'll be retina-friendly.
Go on, treat yourself.
Team news Robin van Persie remains on the bench for Arsenal, having had a muscular reaction following his superb substitute appearance at Spurs on Wednesday. The very promising defensive midfielder Craig Eastmond starts only his second league game, while Lukasz Fabianski replaces the injured Manuel Almunia. The on-loan Bolivian Marcelo Moreno and Ben Watson come in for Wigan.
Wigan (4-2-3-1) Kirkland; Melchiot, Gohouri, Bramble, Figueroa; Diame, McCarthy; N'Zogbia, Watson, Rodallega; Moreno.
Subs: Stojkovic, Scharner, Scotland, Moses, Gomez, Sinclair, Boyce.
Arsenal (4-1-4-1) Fabianski; Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Clichy; Eastmond; Walcott, Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky; Bendtner.
Subs: Mannone, van Persie, Vela, Eboue, Traore, Merida, Henderson.
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