Arsenal 2 Wigan Athletic 0:When Arsene Wenger gave William Gallas the Arsenal captaincy at the beginning of the season the move was considered a gamble. The manager overlooked Gilberto Silva, the safe option, quiet and reliable, and went for the fire and brimstone of Gallas.

It was a little like making a troublesome child head boy.

The Frenchman knew that Gilberto would be upset and the Brazil captain was but he had to suspect that the former Chelsea defender, a player prone to voluble outbursts, would be more so, with potentially destructive consequences. Wenger was accused of being cowed by the force of Gallas's personality.

As ever, though, he had examined every angle and was convinced that Gallas would thrive on the responsibility. The early signs are that the decision was an inspired stroke of man management.

Captains are often characterised as shouters and screamers or as leaders by example but Gallas is a heady mix of both. He can barely speak after matches, such is the hammering he gives to his vocal cords while he has that priceless ability to seize a game by the scruff of the neck. Wigan's heroic resistance had lasted 83 minutes on Saturday when Gallas drew breath and decided that enough was enough.

The 30-year-old drove forward, speared a ball into the feet of Nicklas Bendtner and sprinted through Wigan lines for the near post. Bendtner worked the ball wide to Bacary Sagna, the full back crossed and there was Gallas, muscling in front of Titus Bramble with textbook timing and positioning, to glance home for yet another decisive late Arsenal goal.

Three weeks previously Gallas' 90th-minute strike had rescued a draw against Manchester United and 14 of the club's 33 points have come with goals in the final 10 minutes.

Gallas, his individual streak personified by his new mohican haircut, was described by Wenger as a "forgotten centre forward", while Kolo Toure, his central defensive partner, bracketed him with previous great Arsenal captains.

"When Titi [ Thierry Henry] was here, he was outstanding; Patrick [ Vieira] was strong and Tony [ Adams] as well," said Toure. "William deserves to be mentioned among those names because he is such a strong figure. When he says something, the young players really listen to him because they respect him."

Gallas is the ultimate competitor and he is ever quick to stand up for his young team-mates. When Marcus Bent cut down Denilson, following a simmering feud, and players from both sides converged, Gallas was immediately on to the scene, squaring up to Emile Heskey.

A draw would have been the stuff of fairy tales for Wigan and their caretaker manager, Frank Barlow. Thrust uneasily into the spotlight after the sacking of Chris Hutchings, Barlow had Steve Bruce, who takes over today, watching from the stands and he knows the new manager will almost certainly make changes to the backroom staff. The team have not taken a point since September 15th.

Turmoil and uncertainty dominated a fraught build-up, while Chris Kirkland, the goalkeeper, had a fitness test in the morning on a viral infection and promptly threw up. "That was when he saw the Arsenal teamsheet," said one official.

Wigan produced a performance of grit and pride that pointed towards better things but Gallas had no time for romance.

"If you want to be a manager, you must love the game because it doesn't half tear you apart," said Barlow. Gallas's frenzied goal celebration betrayed more than a hint of relief.

Wenger had good news about Theo Walcott who was carried off 11 minutes from time after collapsing following a hefty challenge from behind by Heskey.

Wenger, though, revealed there was no serious damage, with the player later seen walking comfortably out of the stadium. "Theo does not look bad," said the Arsenal manager.

"The physio told me he had to come off straight away because he was numb as he had been kicked on the nerve.

"He twisted his ankle and we checked on a X-ray, and he looks all right."