Adebayor lifts Arsenal to third

Emmanuel Adebayor scored his fifth goal of the season with a late winner at Wigan to lift Arsenal up to third in the Barclays Premiership.

Togo striker Adebayor struck in the 88th minute to continue Wigan's misery against the top-flight's big guns.

Adebayor was roundly jeered at the final whistle, and again as he left the pitch by the Wigan fans who felt he dived in attempting to win a penalty shortly before he scored the winner.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks, but the fact goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Chris Kirkland were relegated to the role of spectators in the opening period spoke volumes.

There was a shot from Mathieu Flamini in the third minute that was sliced over the bar, and a curled effort from Adebayor in the 28th that finished considerably wide.

Josip Skoko also produced a remarkable diving header from inside the six-yard box in clearing Flamini's right-wing cross.

Although picking up four points on their travels at West Ham and Middlesbrough since the Liverpool debacle, the memories of that game were undeniably still fresh for the Latics players. They were in no mood to be so generous, yet while tightening up at the back, they struggled themselves in attack.

There was also one skilful effort from Henri Camara, who skipped past two challenges before driving a 25-yard shot wide, that at least raised cheers from the home crowd.

The game was in desperate need of a lift and mercifully it arrived after the break as the tempo was raised, and so the chances came.

Two minutes after the restart Camara sent Emile Heskey through, but in attempting to lift a shot over the advancing Lehmann, he slipped, sliced his opportunity, allowing the German to claim.

Within a minute Arsenal countered, with Adebayor playing Baptista in behind the Wigan defence for a crisp first-time drive which Kirkland parried for the first save of the match.

He followed that up seven minutes later by racing off his line to bravely block at the feet of Adebayor after captain Gilberto had split the Latics defence with an incisive pass.

When Wigan were cut open again minutes later, with Gilberto sending Walcott sprinting clear down the right, the opener looked on the cards. Racing into the area, the teenager unselfishly opted to square to Adebayor, but the pass had too much pace on it for the lone striker who was also put off his stride by Emmerson Boyce.

A dipping volley from Skoko that stung the fingers of Lehmann briefly interrupted Arsenal's dominance.

After Fabregas and Van Persie came on in the 75th minute, Lehmann again denied Skoko from 20 yards, with Kolo Toure following up to block Camara's attempt on the rebound.

After opportunities for Ljungberg and Camara, and then Adebayor's theatrics, it was the latter who had the last word.

Fabregas' ball over the top was inch-perfect for Adebayor who toe-poked a low shot underneath the advancing Kirkland, much to the delight of Gunners fans and disgust of Wigan supporters.