Being the Carling Cup, it is one of those matches where one can sit down and enjoy the football of Arsenal without any life-threating pressure. However, I would be upset, very upset if we fail to make it through tonight.

The kids had a quiet start to the match, with Wigan seeing most of the ball, but after they settled down, it was a real joy to watch. In the 8th minute, Carlos Vela is picked up in the penalty area, but decides not to go for a shot and the move ends. Minutes later, Cattermole tries from long range for Wigan, but Fabianski saved easily.

In the 13th minute, our best chance of the half. A brilliant move in midfield brings Vela in a one-to-one situation with the keeper but the Mexican decides to round Kirkland rather than going for goal and Wigan’s number one does very well to block him. Danger didn’t stop there for Wigan, with Wilshere picking Simpson in the penalty area who turns beautifully and smashes one against the bar. Only one minute later, Vela beautifully picks Gibbs’ run, with the youngster pushing his way into the penalty area and going for goal with Kirkland saving, rather than passing it to Simpson who was all alone in the center of the area. A bit selfish from Gibbs, but these kids can only learn from matches like these.

Arsenal kept on coming forward and in the 20th minute, the Wigan keeper was called into action with two brilliant saves, the first one from a Ramsey stunning free-kick, and the second from a beautifully curled shot from Carlos Vela. Thumbs up to Wigan’s keeper there.

Simpson wastes no time to answer Wenger's call

The half moved on quietly with Fabianski called into action a couple of times from high balls and long-range efforts, but no real danger for our captain, who – with the exception of a miscalculated run to catch the ball in the area – has been rock solid throughout the half.

It was in the final stages of the half that Arsenal took the lead. Wigan’s offside trap is badly played, Simpson makes a run which is picked brilliantly by Wilshere and anticipates Kirkland with an in-between the legs shot for 1-0.

Again, it was a first half of entertaining football with Arsenal’s youngsters showing that they can go out there and challenge a Premiership side with ease. Wigan’s moves are almost all coming from Gibbs’ side from the right, but they are failing to deliver good crosses and Fabianski has had an easy life. On the other side, Arsenal are almost always dangerous when pushing forward and some of the football displayed was simply stunning.