LONDON - Arsenal had to come from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic and reclaim fourth place in the English soccer premier league from Bolton Wanderers today.
Arsenal had looked destined for a first defeat at their new Emirates Stadium after a stunning 35th-minute strike
by Wigan's Dutch midfielder Denny Landzaat.
But an own goal by Wigan defender Fitz Hall in the 81st minute and an 84th-minute winner from Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky turned the game around -- soon after Wigan had been denied a penalty.
Arsenal are now fourth on 49 points, leapfrogging back ahead of Bolton, who had moved on to 47 points with a 2-1 win over Fulham in today's earlier match.
Manchester United, who beat relegation battlers Charlton Athletic 2-0 yesterday, are top with 66, six ahead of a Chelsea side who beat Middlesbrough 3-0.
Liverpool are third on 50 points, with Arsenal holding a game in hand on the three clubs above them.
Wigan, who ended an eight-match losing league run by beating Portsmouth last weekend, will consider themselves very unlucky after taking the lead with a stunning 30m shot by Landzaat.
It was nearly 2-0 before the break when former England striker Emile Heskey got through for a shot which German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann managed to tip on to the post and then gather.
Heskey missed another chance soon after the restart and Josip Skoko also came close with a shot just over the top.
Arsenal had looked set to rue a strike by substitute striker Emmanuel Adebayor that was ruled offside.
But Wigan manager Paul Jewell looked furious after a penalty appeal was ignored when Heskey went down under a challenge by substitute Mathieu Flamini.
It proved to be a turning point, with Hall turning a cross into his own net three minutes later and Rosicky heading his first league goal from Julio Baptista's cross.
Bolton had kept up the pressure on Arsenal with their workmanlike win over Fulham.
Gary Speed converted a 23rd-minute penalty and Nolan pounced on a rebound to make it 2-0 five minutes after the restart. Defender Zat Knight pulled one back for Fulham in the 66th minute.
- REUTERS
