Gunners send down Wigan

By: ROB HARRIS

LONDON – Wigan became the first team to be relegated and win the FA Cup in the same season as a 4-1 loss at Arsenal ended an eight-year stay in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, is now primed to qualify for the Champions League for the 16th consecutive season after reclaiming fourth place and sitting a point above Tottenham with one match remaining.
Wigan, weary from Saturday’s first-ever cup win, briefly posed a threat when Shaun Maloney canceled out Lukas Podolski’s opener just before half time from a free kick.
But the powerful start to the second half yielded nothing for Wigan as Arsenal’s ruthlessness produced three goals in eight minutes.
Podolski scored his second of the night in between goals from Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, as Arsenal sent Wigan out of the topflight division.
“We’ve had an incredible eight years in the Premier League and we have to take the good things from last few years, and there are many,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said. “We’ll bounce back as we always do at Wigan.
“We’re on a fantastic financial footing, we have huge assets and a philosophy for the long term.”
Despite winning many plaudits for their style of play under Martinez, Wigan has been unable to amass the points required for survival.
“It is sad that they go down because they are a good team, they play good football and are an intelligent team with good players,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “If they stay together they will certainly come up again.”
Overlooking fears over fatigue, Martinez stuck with the same team that produced a first title in the club’s 81-year history at Wembley Stadium by beating Manchester City Saturday. But they struggled to replicate the dynamic performance that ultimately overwhelmed City.
“The FA Cup gave us a bit of hope to finish the season in the league on a real high, the youngsters came in and gave us a different sense of confidence,” Martinez said. “It was great to win the FA Cup - that will live forever for the fans. Today is really disappointing but it is something we can rectify.
“It’s a difficult time but it’s time to look back, get stronger and prepare for the future.”
-Nampa-AP

---