Martinez praises players after amazing win over Arsenal
After watching his side produce one of the finest results in the history of Wigan Athletic Roberto Martinez paid credit to the attitude of his players, and the fantastic support from those inside the DW Stadium.
2-0 down with ten minutes left an Arsenal win was inevitable, but goals from Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and Charles N'Zogbia made for a thrilling afternoon and three golden points.
"All the credit must go to the players.," said the gaffer.
"We all know we can play good football, we all know we can break teams down and we know we can get results again the top sides.
"You won't see too many teams come from two goals down to beat what is a very good Arsenal side.
"We always had the belief in the team. I always felt we could pose problems for Arsenal because we were well organised and we were coping with the threat.
"We just needed a goal, and I felt we had a very good penalty appeal turned down at the start of the second half.
"Then, immediately, we conceded the second goal, and that couldn't have been a bigger blow for us.
"But I was delighted with the way we responded, because it is not easy to score goals against Arsenal from open play.
"Charles deserved his goal. It was a great ball in to Hugo, who linked up play very well and Charles is at his best in one-against-one situations.
"The fans played a massive role in our win today and they deserve to be as happy as the players are, they were magnificent"
One man who had a massive say in the outcome was Victor Moses. Brought on as a substitute on the hour-mark the winger was inspirational and had a big say in the goals that got Latics back into the game. Martinez paid big credit to his creative spark;
"We have always said that we are privileged to be working with Victor.
"He is a young man who is just enjoying his football, but very soon he will be a very important player for us and for British football."
The win was reminiscent of Latics' victories over Liverpool and Chelsea this season and the gaffer was delighted his side were able to put the disappointment of Wednesday night to bed, more concerned with what the three points mean to Wigan Athletic rather than those clubs around us;
"It doesn't really bother me what this result means to the likes of Hull and Burnley. He said; "All I care about is Wigan Athletic, and this is a very special win.
"This is the first time we have beaten Arsenal in the league, and to do that in the same season as beating Chelsea and Liverpool for the first time is something special for the fans to be proud of.
"The players had to cope with a lot of criticism after Wednesday night, which I thought was very unfair because they did everything but score a goal.
"Now they will get the credit they deserve and I am pleased about that.
"We expect three points from every game we play, and we have always been brave.
"Sometimes we have been heavily punished because of that, but that's the only way you can compete with and beat teams like Arsenal.
"That is part of the learning curve we have spoken about, and it can sound like a broken record but it is reality. In football, you don't get anything by accident. You have to work hard."
But the gaffer is fully aware that the job isn't done yet, and the lads go to West Ham next weekend hoping for another massive result;
"We need to make sure complete the job of saying in the Premier League by getting another win to make us mathematically safe.
"We go to West Ham with a spring in our step after the home performances against Portsmouth and now Arsenal.
"That has given us a consistency in our play, and we have to make that into our away matches as well.
"It's important to finish the season on a high and that starts next week at West Ham."
