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 beating Fulham 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 unexpected defeat at Newcastle yesterday.

England Under-21 winger 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.

On 10 minutes, Walcott's low pass across the area was just too far ahead of Julio Baptista, arriving at pace towards the penalty spot.

At the other end, Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann had to be alert to parry a decent strike from Landzaat - a warning of what was to come.

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, ten 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.

Rosicky's low cross from the left was then almost sliced into the Wigan goal by Boyce.

Arsenal were on top, but without really giving the visitors' defence too much concern as the choice of final pass was poor.

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 right side of 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.

And in first-half stoppage time Heskey was within inches of making it 2-0.

He latched onto McCulloch's pass into the area and shot goalwards - but Lehmann got just enough of a touch for the ball to bounce back off the right-hand post.

Arsenal broke quickly - and Henry headed wide from Gael Clichy's centre.

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 struck 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.

Clichy darted into the penalty box, and went down in a crowd of blue shirts. Referee Paul Dowd was unmoved.

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.

Emmanuel Adebayor saw a well-taken effort ruled out for a marginal offside call.

Heskey got ahead of Flamini - and looked to have been bundled over inside the box. The referee, though, waved away the appeals.

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.

Henry then taunted Chris Kirkland with the ball after the goal, the Arsenal side unhappy that the Wigan keeper had been taking his time over goal-kicks over the game.

The Gunners skipper, though, was to have the last say when Rosicky won it six minutes from time when he headed in Baptista's cut-back from the goal-line.

Teams

Arsenal Lehmann, Hoyte (Aliadiere 67), Toure,Djourou (Adebayor 51), Clichy, Walcott (Flamini 67), Fabregas,Silva, Rosicky, Julio Baptista, Henry.

Subs Not Used: Almunia, Denilson.

Booked: Toure, Henry, Lehmann, Rosicky, Clichy, Fabregas.

Goals: Hall 81 og, Rosicky 85.

Wigan Kirkland, Hall (Haestad 90), Boyce, Jackson, Baines,Taylor (Valencia 87), Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch, Heskey,Aghahowa (Kilbane 87).

Subs Not Used: Filan, Unsworth.

Booked: Baines, McCulloch, Hall.

Goals: Landzaat 35.

Att: 60,049

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).