Crespo saves Chelsea, Arsenal edge Newcastle
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-15 08:55

LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Argentine substitute Hernan Crespo scored a stoppage-time winner to give champions Chelsea a dramatic 1-0 victory at promoted Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Wigan, playing their first game in the top flight, looked set for at least a fully-deserved draw or even a sensational win in the closing stages before Crespo smashed in a heartbreaking shot in the 93rd minute.

Arsenal needed late goals to beat 10-man Newcastle United 2-0 in the early kickoff, captain Thierry Henry converting an 81st minute penalty and substitute Robin van Persie sealing a laboured win.

The new Premier League season had opened on Saturday with a 2-0 win for Manchester United at Everton, including a goal from former Blue Wayne Rooney, while European champions Liverpool were held 0-0 at Middlesbrough.

But the weekend's real excitement was at the JJB Stadium, where Wigan played some fine attacking football and showed real determination against a Chelsea side who won the title last season at a canter.

Chelsea, whose owner Roman Abramovich has lavished 330 million pounds ($599.2 million) on the club, deployed all their attacking force on a team who rolled with the punches and hit back in style.

"I think it's not fair. I think they don't deserve to lose the game," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports News.

"During the game, you couldn't see who was the Championship champions and who were the Premiership champions -- they were exactly the same."

In a rare public criticism of his team, Mourinho accused some of his players of lacking motivation and "thinking slow, playing slow."

WAKE-UP CALL

"Normally you lose a game and that loss is the wake-up call. Today, we can have this wake up call without losing points -- and I hope it happens for us."

Wigan manager Paul Jewell said: "We didn't get maybe what we deserved for our efforts and our desire today... we're sick as pigs, really.

"But if we give everything we've got like that every week we'll be okay...We've lost to a top quality side and we've made them go all the way. The only negative is the result."

Damien Francis and Henri Camara tested Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, though Wigan's best early chance was sent over the top by Irish midfielder Alan Mahon.

Unable to get into their stride, Chelsea threatened little at the other end and it was no surprise when Mourinho threw on new winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole for Arjen Robben and Eidur Gudjohnsen after the break.

Crespo replaced Ireland winger Damien Duff on the hour as Mourinho searched in vain for the breakthrough against a club who only left minor-league football in 1978.

Francis gave Chelsea a fright with an 82nd minute header that hit the crossbar and substitute Andreas Johansson then failed to make more of a breakaway that gave the home side three players against one.

But a point was cruelly snatched away from Jewell's men when Crespo -- back after a loan spell at AC Milan -- hammered home a superb shot from outside the area.

SPIRITED NEWCASTLE

Down at Highbury, Newcastle were equally spirited but paid the price for a 32nd-minute red card shown to England midfielder Jermaine Jenas for a lunging tackle on Gilberto.

Graeme Souness's re-vamped team held out until Fredrik Ljungberg went down under a challenge by substitute Charles N'Zogbia and Henry steered the spot-kick just beyond Shay Given in the 81st minute.

Van Persie put the result beyond doubt six minutes later, side-footing past Given from the narrowest of angles after being picked out by Ljungberg at the near post.

Yet the scoreline flattered Arsenal, who struggled to break down opponents who made light work of being a man down.

"It was a difficult game against a good team," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

"Newcastle deserve a lot of credit, they will have a much stronger role to play in this championship than everybody thinks."

As for Jenas, Wenger said: "It looked to me a dangerous tackle, when he brings his right foot in...that took Gilberto's stand leg. It looked to me a dark yellow or a clear red.

"We've had players sent off for less than that."

Souness told the Newcastle website: "I am not going to talk about the referee. If you speak your mind, you end up in trouble.

"But that decision changed the game for us. I'm certain that with 11 men on the field we would have got something fromn the match."

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