Arsenal score four inside 30 minutes to beat Wigan Athletic 4–0 at Emirates Stadium and reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2020.
Arsenal swept into the FA Cup fifth round with a ruthless 4–0 victory over Wigan Athletic, scoring all four goals before the half-hour mark on an afternoon that underlined the squad’s depth as much as its attacking quality. Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were all on the scoresheet, with a Jack Hunt own goal completing the tally against the League One side.
Mikel Arteta made eight changes from the team that drew at Brentford, handing starts to the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Eberechi Eze. Any sense of jeopardy disappeared early. Arsenal pressed high, circulated the ball quickly and broke through on 11 minutes when Eze slipped a precise pass in behind for Madueke, who cut inside from the right and finished low into the far corner.
The second arrived eight minutes later and again Eze was at the heart of it. Picking the ball up between the lines, he released Martinelli into space on the left; the Brazilian drove into the box and guided a right-footed shot past Sam Tickle to double the lead. Wigan, who had been pinned back from the opening whistle, then saw the tie slip further away when Hunt inadvertently headed Madueke’s driven cross into his own net midway through the half.
Arsenal were not finished. On 27 minutes, Bukayo Saka combined neatly with Jesus on the edge of the area and the striker took a touch before steering a measured finish beyond Tickle for 4–0. From there the hosts managed the game, still creating chances but no longer forcing the issue with the same intensity. Wigan reorganised, tightened up defensively and their goalkeeper produced several good saves after the interval to prevent the scoreline from becoming heavier.
Arteta was encouraged by both the performance and the application of a heavily rotated side. “We made a lot of changes and some players needed some minutes. We started the game very, very well. We had some great actions collectively and individually. The first half made the difference,” he said afterwards, assessing a display that effectively settled the tie inside half an hour.
Madueke, named player of the match, echoed that assessment and highlighted the focus shown against lower-league opposition. “Very pleased. We were very professional and had the right intent. Four goals and a clean sheet,” he told TNT Sports, before reserving particular praise for Eze’s creativity in the final third.
There were further positives for Arsenal in the second half, with valuable minutes for returning players and late cameos for youngsters such as Marli Salmon and goalkeeper Tommy Setford, while avoiding additional injury concerns. Progress to the fifth round for the first time since their 2020 triumph keeps Arteta’s team in contention on all fronts and ensures the FA Cup will remain part of a crowded but promising schedule over the coming weeks.