Arsenal emphatically booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round, dismantling League One side Wigan Athletic 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, . The dominant performance saw the Gunners score four goals in a blistering opening 27 minutes, continuing their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts.
The victory marked Arsenal’s return to the fifth round for the first time since , the year they last lifted the FA Cup trophy under Mikel Arteta. The speed and precision of Arsenal’s attacking play were immediately evident, overwhelming a Wigan side battling relegation in League One.
Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the 11th minute, latching onto a perfectly weighted, defence-splitting pass from Eberechi Eze. Eze, dropping deeper to dictate play, proved instrumental in unlocking the Wigan defence. Just seven minutes later, the lead was doubled as Eze again provided the assist, this time finding Gabriel Martinelli who finished calmly into the corner.
Wigan’s afternoon quickly deteriorated further. A Jack Hunt own goal, resulting from good work between Bukayo Saka and Madueke, extended Arsenal’s advantage. Saka, a late addition to the starting lineup after Riccardo Calafiori was injured during the warm-up, adapted seamlessly to an unfamiliar central midfield role.
The fourth goal arrived in the 27th minute, courtesy of Gabriel Jesus. Christian Norgaard’s ball over the top found Jesus in space and the Brazilian striker expertly chipped the onrushing Sam Tickle. Arsenal’s devastating start saw them become the first Premier League team to score four goals within the opening half-hour of an FA Cup match.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, the game wasn’t entirely without incident for Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. He was called upon to make a crucial save, denying Joe Taylor from close range, preventing Wigan from gaining a foothold in the match. Later in the second half, Wigan substitute Viktor Gyokeres hit the post, a rare moment of threat for the League One side.
The comprehensive victory underscores Arsenal’s ambitions this season. Currently leading the Premier League, and with a League Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon, as well as progressing in the Champions League, Arteta’s side are firmly in contention for a historic quadruple. Arteta acknowledged the importance of managing the squad, stating, “We made a lot of changes because of players who needed minutes. The intensity that we showed, the connections between players and the threat we had, I’m very pleased.”
This FA Cup tie lacked the drama of Arsenal’s previous encounter with Wigan in – a memorable semi-final decided by a penalty shootout, with Arteta himself converting the winning spot-kick. However, the result serves as a clear statement of intent from a team brimming with confidence and attacking firepower.
Wigan, meanwhile, face a continued battle against relegation in League One. Arriving at the Emirates Stadium under the leadership of interim manager Glenn Whelan, following the recent dismissal of Ryan Lowe, they were comprehensively outmatched by a Premier League side operating at the peak of their powers. The gulf in quality was starkly evident from the opening whistle.
The late change to the Arsenal lineup, with Saka replacing Calafiori, highlighted the depth of Arteta’s squad. Saka’s ability to seamlessly transition into a central midfield role demonstrated his versatility and tactical awareness. Norgaard’s contribution, providing the assist for Jesus’s goal, further showcased the team’s collective strength.
Arsenal’s dominant display serves as a warning to their FA Cup rivals. Having overcome a challenging fourth-round tie, they will now look ahead to the fifth round with renewed optimism, aiming to replicate their success and add another trophy to their collection. The Gunners’ quest for a quadruple remains very much alive.
