Latics were denied the chance of becoming the first visitors to win at the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal staged a comeback in the last ten minutes to send Latics to an undeserved 2-1 defeat.

Denny Landzaat stunned the Emirates Stadium by helping Latics to a precious one-goal lead with an absolutely stunning strike from thirty yards in the 35th minute which left goalkeeper Jens Lehmann stranded between the sticks. It was the Dutchman's second goal of the campaign.

Latics were also inches away from doubling the lead just before half-time through Emile Heskey. The striker replaced Caleb Folan in the starting eleven who suffered an ankle injury. The former Liverpool man latched onto Ryan Taylor's through ball but it hit the inside of Lehmann's post before the German goalkeeper grabbed the rebound.

Heskey should have been awarded a penalty in the 78th minute as he chased Ryan Taylor's cross into the penalty area, only to be dragged back by substitute Matheiu Flamini, but referee Phil Dowd, who has been criticised by Paul Jewell in the past, refused to sanction the penalty.

Latics were even more furious as Arsenal equalized two minutes later when Flamini's cross was turned by Fitz Hall for the own goal when replays showed the Arsenal midfielder was offside.

The Gunners then took the lead with just five minutes remaining when Julio Baptista latched onto an Emmanuel Adebayor throughball, and crossed for Czech international Tomas Rosicky to head home.

There was little doubt the Gunners were below par in the first half, who at times seemed to struggle keeping hold of possession.

Goal hero Landzaat saw a shot saved in the twelth minute, whilst Lee McCulloch headed over the bar from an Julius Aghowaha cross. The Nigerian striker also saw an effort skewed wide of target after connecting to McCulloch's knock down.

Latics started the second half brightly and in the 50th minute Taylor's lobbed pass found Heskey in the penalty area, but the striker lifted the ball just over the crossbar.

Josip Skoko saw his driven shot just rise over Lehmann's bar as he sweetly struck the ball after Justin Hoyte's poor half clearance.

Thierry Henry missed three chances in the first half, as he failed to convert a Theo Walcott cross, and the Frenchman headed over the bar from close range.

Latics were then pinned back in their own half for the majority of the last half hour of the match, but although Arsenal had plenty of corners, Latics looked solid and resilient in defence for long periods. Emmerson Boyce made several vital well timed challenges to keep Latics in the match.

Rosicky fired wide on the hour, before Adebayor saw his goal in the 72nd minute correctly ruled offside before the home side staged their comeback.

Latics deserved at least a point from this match, and no doubt manager Paul Jewell will find some decisions in this match from the officials questionable.

There are plenty of positives to take out of the match though. Latics are still five points ahead of West Ham, and they battled with confidence against the fourth-placed Gunners and certainly gave them a real scare on their own ground. Even their goalscorer Rosicky agreed afterwards that it was the closest Arsenal had come to losing at their new home.

Latics: Kirkland; Hall (Haestad 90), Boyce, Jackson (c), Baines; Taylor (Valencia 86), Skoko, Landzaat, McCulloch; Heskey, Aghowaha (Kilbane 86).

Unused Substitutes: Filan, Kilbane, , Unsworth, Haestad.

Booked: Baines, McCulloch, Hall

Arsenal: Lehmann; Djourou (Adebayor 51) Toure, Hoyte (Aliadiere 67), Clichy; Walcott (Flamini 67), Gilberto, Fabregas, Rosicky; Henry (c), Baptista.

Unused Substitutes: Almunia, Denilson.

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