The only changes to the Everton side from the one that finished the final game of last season at Chelsea were the introduction of Andy Johnson and Victor Anichebe.
Wigan's new boss, Chris Hutchings, however, displayed four of his seven close season signings with Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Jason Koumas and Mario Melchiot all starting, and he will be hoping this season doesn't go down to a last-day relegation battle.
It was David Moyes' men that started the game brightly though, with danger-man Mikel Arteta looking particularly sharp, though judging by Johnson's wayward eighth-minute effort, the diminutive striker needs a little more time to shake the dust from his boots.
After just 20 minutes the game was already looking tired with both teams cancelling each other out. Paul Scharner went close for Wigan but both his shots were blocked by Lee Carsley.
It was Leon Osman who broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when he pounced on Tony Hibbert's wicked cross after the ball had bounced over an inept Titus Bramble.
Minutes later the referee turned down one of the most blatant penalties the Premiership will see this season. Arteta took on three Wigan players in the area before Bramble decided to go route one and simply hacked the Spaniard down right in front of the official.
Goodison erupted in fury when the ref waved play on. A minute later Bramble hacked down Anichebe but unfortunately for the Toffees it was outside the box and Arteta's free-kick sailed inches wide of Chris Kirkland's goal.
Wigan came out with more purpose but still relied too much on long, high balls into Heskey and Caleb Folan. Everton looked comfortable, seemingly happy with their lead but Osman should have put Moyes' side further ahead on the hour.
After a scramble in the box which saw goalkeeper Kirkland on the deck, Osman hit his shot the wrong side of the goal from just three feet out.
New Wigan signing Antoine Sibierski entered the fray on 66 minutes just as Luis Antonio Valencia hit a blistering shot across Tim Howard's goal.
A minute later Everton could have wrapped it up but youngster Anichebe laid a pass on for Johnson in the area when it would have been easier to shoot himself.
Everton brought on new signing Steven Pienaar for Osman as the game seemingly drifted to a close. It paid instant dividends as the debutant put Johnson through and his cross found Anichebe, who buried the ball past Kirkland, albeit off the crossbar.
New boy Sibierski gave Wigan some hope with ten minutes left by scoring from Scharner's cross after Emile Heskey's slide-rule pass had opened up the Everton defence, but it was a false dawn for the Latics as the game ended 2-1.