Arsenal 2 Wigan 1:Arsenal left it late to maintain their unbeaten Emirates Stadium record when they came from behind to see off relegation battlers Wigan.

A brilliant strike from Denny Landzaat had given the Latics a shock half-time lead. The Gunners, though, produced their now customary late rally to secure victory through an own goal from Fitz Hall and a Tomas Rosicky header six minutes from time.

With Bolton having won earlier in the afternoon, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger knew there was little room for manoeuvre in the race to stay in the Champions League places and take advantage of Liverpool's defeat at Newcastle yesterday.

Theo Walcott had been recalled to the starting XI, and looked lively down the Arsenal right during the opening exchanges. It needed a timely sliding challenge from Emerson Boyce to stop the 17-year-old collecting Cesc Fabregas' through ball.

There was an early chance for Wigan when a left-wing cross from Julius Aghahowa was deflected through to Emile Heskey at the far post — but the former England striker could not steer his volley back on target.

It should have been 1-0 to Arsenal on 15 minutes as Baptista released Walcott down the right. His cross was just too far ahead of Fabregas — but fell right into the path of Thierry Henry at the far post, six yards out.

However, the normally composed Frenchman somehow contrived to balloon the ball high over the crossbar with his left foot.

Neither he nor the fans behind Chris Kirkland's goal could quite believe it.

Slowly Arsenal started to mount a sustained period of pressure.  On 22 minutes, Lee McCulloch pulled back Baptista to concede a free-kick in a central position, 25 yards out.

Henry struck the effort well, and Kirkland had to stretch down to his right to save.

Wigan then took a shock lead on 35 minutes with a brilliant strike from Landzaat. Arsenal failed to clear their lines following a determined run by Aghahowa into the box.

The ball fell to midfielder Landzaat some 25 yards out. The Dutchman took one touch before smashing a fierce strike past Lehmann into the top left corner.

Not for the first time this season, Arsenal found themselves trailing at home.

Just after the restart, Johan Djourou had to be taken off for treatment on what looked like it could be a broken nose following an accidental clash with Heskey.

With Arsenal a man short at the back, the ball was chipped through for the ex-Birmingham striker — but Heskey looped his angled shot over.

On 51 minutes, Djourou had to be replaced. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor came on and Gilberto dropped back into defence as Wenger reshuffled his pack.

As the hour mark approached, Arsenal upped the tempo and the home fans responded with an increase in volume.

Josip Skoko sent a rasping, angled effort just over from 20 yards after Wigan broke down the left. The hosts, however, continued to press and forced a succession of corners.

Wenger made a double change with 24 minutes left when Mathieu Flamini came on for Justin Hoyte and Walcott was replaced by Jeremie Aliadiere.

With nine minutes left, Arsenal were level. The ball was swiftly moved out to Flamini on the overlap - and his low centre from the right was diverted into his own net by Hall.

Rosicky then won it six minutes from time when he headed in Baptista's cut-back from the goal-line.