Wenger: Arteta injury had hand in Wigan loss

Arsène Wenger believes Mikel Arteta's injury played its part in both Wigan goals at Emirates Stadium on Monday night. Arsenal suffered just their second defeat in 11 matches as two Latics goals inside the first eight minutes ultimately condemned the Gunners to defeat. Arteta was injured in the build-up to Wigan’s first goal and Wenger believes the Spaniard’s inability to continue cost his side dear. “I believe we started quite well but they took their chances and, having watched the game again, we lost two goals with Arteta being out,” he told Arsenal Player. “The first goal is a corner for us and then it goes to them but Arteta cannot track the player. On the second goal we were down to 10 men but I concede that was not defensively good enough from us. “We were recently quite solid defensively and it is important to find our focus again going into a big game like Chelsea on Saturday.”