By Graham Chase BBC Sport

Early strikes from Franco di Santo and Jordi Gomez helped Wigan ease their relegation worries with their first points at Arsenal.

Di Santo finished off a break and Gomez tapped in to give the Latics a 2-0 lead after eight minutes.

Thomas Vermaelen's header halved the deficit midway through the first half.

Martinez predicts tight survival battle

But Arsenal could not find another and wasted the chance to move eight points clear in third, while Wigan are five points above the relegation zone.

The Latics, who had only won back-to-back Premier League matches once before under Martinez, gave their survival hopes a major boost with a fourth win in five games and they have now lost just twice in 11 matches.

For both of Wigan's goals, which came in the space of 94 seconds, Mikel Arteta was off the field with an ankle problem that forced his substitution.

But, having had 82 minutes to find a way back, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be frustrated at his team's failure to claim at least a point.

Despite pinning the visitors in their own half during the second period, Martinez's side still had the better chances and, having gone into the game with eight wins in nine matches, this was a performance that will raise familiar questions for Wenger.

Wigan's run-in

21 April: Fulham(a)

28 April: Newcastle (h)

7 May: Blackburn (a)

13 May: Wolves(h)

Wigan, who had lost 12 of their 13 league games in London under Martinez, had previously only managed a goal in the first 20 minutes of a match on one occasion this season so few would have predicted their blistering start.

Vermaelen thumped a shot wide from distance and Yossi Benayoun had a header tipped over by Ali Al-Habsi before the visitors took the lead with an explosive break.

James McCarthy won the ball on the edge of his area and sent Victor Moses into space before Gomez guided a pass through for Di Santo, who touched past Wojciech Szczesny and tapped in.

Less than 90 seconds later, Moses was allowed far too much space down the left and, after Szczesny got a hand to Gomez's first effort, the Spaniard clipped in to double the advantage.

Arsenal pulled one back when Vermaelen met Tomas Rosicky's cross with a powerful header.

Arsenal lacked sharpness - Wenger

Johan Djourou also shot wide and Rosicky lifted an effort over after a quick break from the hosts.

The Latics continued to be pinned in their own territory after the interval but threatened again when Moses broke and had a curling effort pushed away by Szczesny.

Moses wasted another chance when he tore away from Djourou only to give Szczesny a simple save from well outside the area rather than carry the ball further.

Gomez also volleyed over at the far post after Moses once again tore into space down the left.

Wigan had to endure some anxious moments in the closing stages but Al Habsi was never really stretched and, just five days after their 1-0 win over Manchester United, the Latics held on for a memorable victory.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Arsenal

  • 13 Szczesny
  • 03 Sagna Booked
  • 05 Vermaelen
  • 11 Santos
  • 20 Djourou (Oxlade-Chamberlain - 74' )
  • 07 Rosicky
  • 08 Arteta (Ramsey - 9' )
  • 14 Walcott
  • 17 Song Booked
  • 30 Benayoun (Gervinho - 61' )
  • 10 Van Persie

Substitutes

  • 21 Fabianski
  • 18 Squillaci
  • 28 Gibbs
  • 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 16 Ramsey
  • 27 Gervinho
  • 29 Chamakh

Wigan Athletic

  • 26 Al Habsi Booked
  • 03 Alcaraz
  • 05 Caldwell Booked
  • 17 Boyce
  • 31 Figueroa
  • 04 McCarthy
  • 11 Moses
  • 14 Gomez (Diame - 86' )
  • 16 McArthur Booked
  • 22 Beausejour
  • 09 Di Santo (Sammon - 75' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Pollitt
  • 23 Stam
  • 08 Watson
  • 19 Jones
  • 21 Diame
  • 15 McManaman
  • 18 Sammon
Ref: Marriner
Att: 60,060

Match Stats

Shots

18 12

On target

9 7

Corners

9 3

Fouls

15 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:32 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:24

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Clarindo Andre Santos, Gary Caldwell manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +4:24 Booking

Booking James McArthur booked.

90:00 +4:18

James McArthur challenges Tomas Rosicky unfairly and gives away a free kick.

90:00 +4:05

Mohamed Diame takes a shot. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.

90:00 +3:31

Conor Sammon concedes a free kick for a foul on Bacary Sagna. Free kick taken by Wojciech Szczesny.

90:00 +1:32 Booking

Booking Ali Al Habsi is shown a yellow card for time wasting.

90:00 +0:57

Foul by Tomas Rosicky on Maynor Figueroa, free kick awarded. Ali Al Habsi takes the direct free kick.

89:30

Clarindo Andre Santos gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mohamed Diame. Gary Caldwell takes the direct free kick.

86:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Conor Sammon by Alex Song. Free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.

86:05

Conor Sammon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Thomas Vermaelen. Alex Song takes the direct free kick.

84:59

Ali Al Habsi takes the free kick.

84:59 Substitution

Substitution Mohamed Diame on for Jordi Gomez.

84:59

Foul by Yao Gervinho on Emmerson Boyce, free kick awarded.

77:59

The assistant referee signals for offside against Victor Moses. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.

77:27

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain concedes a free kick for a foul on Conor Sammon. Antolin Alcaraz restarts play with the free kick.

75:50

Corner taken left-footed by Clarindo Andre Santos, save by Ali Al Habsi.

74:33

Clarindo Andre Santos restarts play with the free kick.

74:33 Substitution

Substitution Conor Sammon comes on in place of Franco Di Santo.

74:33

Unfair challenge on Thomas Vermaelen by Franco Di Santo results in a free kick.

73:23

Thomas Vermaelen restarts play with the free kick.

73:23 Substitution

Substitution Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Johan Djourou.

73:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Ramsey by Jordi Gomez.

71:46

Free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.

71:46 Booking

Booking Caution for Alex Song.

71:29

Unfair challenge on James McCarthy by Alex Song results in a free kick.

69:46

Effort on goal by Jordi Gomez from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

69:09

Corner taken by Robin van Persie played to the near post.

68:30

The official flags Franco Di Santo offside. Indirect free kick taken by Thomas Vermaelen.

68:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Maynor Figueroa by Tomas Rosicky. Jean Beausejour takes the free kick.

67:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Song on Maynor Figueroa. Jean Beausejour takes the free kick.

66:10

Aaron Ramsey produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

65:33

Handball decision goes against Franco Di Santo. Thomas Vermaelen takes the free kick.

63:49

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour from the left by-line, Header by Jordi Gomez from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

63:35

Franco Di Santo takes a shot. Blocked by Thomas Vermaelen.

62:30

The assistant referee flags for offside against Robin van Persie. Antolin Alcaraz takes the indirect free kick.

60:25 Substitution

Substitution Yossi Benayoun leaves the field to be replaced by Yao Gervinho.

59:05

Aaron Ramsey delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

59:05 Booking

Booking The referee books Gary Caldwell for unsporting behaviour.

58:57

Gary Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky.

58:48

Victor Moses takes a shot. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.

57:33

Clarindo Andre Santos has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

55:40

Outswinging corner taken by Jean Beausejour from the left by-line.

54:32

Corner taken by Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.

54:22

Yossi Benayoun takes a shot. Emmerson Boyce gets a block in.

52:54

Victor Moses takes a shot. Save made by Wojciech Szczesny.

51:38

Unfair challenge on Theo Walcott by Franco Di Santo results in a free kick. Robin van Persie delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Antolin Alcaraz makes a clearance.

50:18

Unfair challenge on Clarindo Andre Santos by Jordi Gomez results in a free kick. Clarindo Andre Santos delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, James McArthur manages to make a clearance.

45:59

Clarindo Andre Santos takes a shot. Gary Caldwell gets a block in.

45:49

Clarindo Andre Santos takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Caldwell.

45:34

James McCarthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Ramsey. Free kick taken by Aaron Ramsey.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +3:04 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +2:32

Shot from just outside the box by Jordi Gomez goes over the bar.

45:00 +0:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jordi Gomez by Alex Song. Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.

44:42

Unfair challenge on Robin van Persie by Victor Moses results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Robin van Persie from right channel.

42:42

Foul by Maynor Figueroa on Tomas Rosicky, free kick awarded. Shot comes in from Robin van Persie from the free kick.

40:58

Emmerson Boyce is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Clarindo Andre Santos.

40:08

Foul by Theo Walcott on Jean Beausejour, free kick awarded. James McCarthy takes the free kick.

39:36

The referee penalises Johan Djourou for handball. Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.

36:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jordi Gomez by Alex Song. Direct free kick taken by Jean Beausejour.

36:29

Yossi Benayoun gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Antolin Alcaraz. Free kick taken by Antolin Alcaraz.

35:59

The ball is sent over by Tomas Rosicky.

34:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by James McCarthy on Aaron Ramsey. Clarindo Andre Santos restarts play with the free kick.

33:08

Direct free kick taken by Antolin Alcaraz.

33:08 Booking

Booking Booking for Bacary Sagna.

33:01

Unfair challenge on Victor Moses by Bacary Sagna results in a free kick.

31:54

Effort on goal by Clarindo Andre Santos from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

31:32

Tomas Rosicky decides to take a short corner.

28:14

The assistant referee signals for offside against Franco Di Santo. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.

27:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Theo Walcott on Jean Beausejour. Direct free kick taken by Ali Al Habsi.

25:49

Shot from deep inside the area by Tomas Rosicky clears the crossbar.

23:17

Johan Djourou produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

22:37

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tomas Rosicky from the left by-line to the near post, Maynor Figueroa manages to make a clearance.

22:29

Robin van Persie takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.

21:41

The ball is crossed by Jean Beausejour, Clarindo Andre Santos manages to make a clearance.

20:35

Assist by Tomas Rosicky.

20:35 Goal scored

Goal - Thomas Vermaelen - Arsenal 1 - 2 Wigan Thomas Vermaelen finds the back of the net with a headed goal from deep inside the penalty box. Arsenal 1-2 Wigan.

19:49

Robin van Persie takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, James McCarthy manages to make a clearance.

19:13

Aaron Ramsey takes a shot. James McCarthy gets a block in.

17:59

Clarindo Andre Santos takes a shot. Blocked by Emmerson Boyce.

17:29

Victor Moses takes a shot. Johan Djourou gets a block in.

15:46

Corner taken by Robin van Persie from the right by-line, save made by Ali Al Habsi.

15:36

Yossi Benayoun takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.

14:42

Corner taken by Tomas Rosicky from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by James McCarthy.

13:46

Centre by Clarindo Andre Santos, Gary Caldwell manages to make a clearance.

13:31

A cross is delivered by Bacary Sagna, clearance made by Gary Caldwell.

9:12

Short corner worked by Jordi Gomez.

9:46

Effort from just outside the area by James McCarthy goes over the bar.

9:12

Short corner taken by Jordi Gomez from the right by-line,

8:57

Franco Di Santo takes a shot. Blocked by Tomas Rosicky.

8:50 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Ramsey comes on in place of Mikel Arteta.

7:44

Assist by James McArthur.

7:44 Goal scored

Goal - Jordi Gomez - Arsenal 0 - 2 Wigan Jordi Gomez gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Arsenal 0-2 Wigan.

6:10

Assist by Jordi Gomez.

6:10 Goal scored

Goal - Franco Di Santo - Arsenal 0 - 1 Wigan Franco Di Santo finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Arsenal 0-1 Wigan.

5:46

Corner taken by Robin van Persie played to the near post, James McCarthy makes a clearance.

5:28

Bacary Sagna sends in a cross, Yossi Benayoun takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.

3:56

Unfair challenge on Franco Di Santo by Robin van Persie results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Emmerson Boyce.

2:48

Unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky by James McCarthy results in a free kick. Strike comes in from Mikel Arteta from the free kick, Franco Di Santo gets a block in.

1:57

Thomas Vermaelen has a shot and went wide of the right-hand upright.

0:00

The match begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association