Arsenal delivered a masterclass in attacking football, scoring four times in a devastating 17-minute first-half blitz to secure an emphatic 4-0 victory over League One strugglers Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round. The Gunners' rampant performance at the Emirates Stadium saw them cruise into the fifth round for the first time since their 2020 FA Cup triumph, maintaining their faint hopes of an unprecedented quadruple this season.
Explosive Start Sets the Tone
Mikel Arteta made eight changes to the side that drew at Brentford just days earlier, but still fielded a formidable attacking lineup featuring Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli. The depth of Arsenal's squad was immediately evident as they overwhelmed their opponents from the opening whistle.
Madueke Opens the Floodgates
The breakthrough came after just 11 minutes when Eberechi Eze, whose form had been under scrutiny recently, delivered a sublime no-look pass through the eye of a needle to find Noni Madueke. The winger ghosted in from the right flank and made no mistake with a composed first-time finish past Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Seven minutes later, Arsenal doubled their advantage through Gabriel Martinelli. Once again, Eze was the architect, providing the assist as Martinelli calmly slotted home to make it 2-0. The Brazilian's clinical finish demonstrated the gulf in quality between the Premier League title contenders and their League One opponents.
Own Goal Compounds Wigan's Misery
Wigan's defensive woes continued just five minutes later when Arsenal added a third in unfortunate circumstances for the visitors. Madueke raced past a flat-footed Morgan Fox and played in Bukayo Saka, whose pull-back deflected off Gabriel Jesus' toes before a confused Jack Hunt headed past his own goalkeeper.
The visiting supporters, already frustrated by their team's recent form that saw manager Ryan Lowe lose his job after a 6-1 defeat to Peterborough, began chanting "How s*** must you be, it's only 3-0." Their misery would deepen further before the half-hour mark.
Jesus Completes First-Half Rout
In the 27th minute, Gabriel Jesus latched onto Christian Norgaard's long ball over the top and displayed exquisite technique to dink the ball over the onrushing Tickle, making it 4-0. The Brazilian's finish capped a remarkable period of dominance that saw Arsenal score four goals in just 17 minutes.
Wigan, languishing in 22nd position in League One with six losses in their last seven matches, might have feared a cricket score at this point. Stand-in manager Glenn Whelan watched helplessly as his team was torn apart by Arsenal's attacking prowess.
Second Half Sees Game Fizzle Out
To their credit, Wigan managed to avoid further humiliation after the interval. They even created a chance to pull one back, but Joe Taylor's shot was expertly saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Arsenal, with important Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Tottenham looming in the next seven days, made changes at halftime. Bukayo Saka, still regaining full fitness following a hip problem, was replaced by Swedish international Viktor Gyokeres.
The substitute nearly made it five, only to see his first-time deflected effort rebound off the post. Eberechi Eze then smashed into the side-netting on the hour mark, while Sam Tickle produced a strong save to deny Gabriel Martinelli's close-range header.
Quadruple Dreams Remain Alive
Despite failing to add to their tally in the second half, Arsenal's comprehensive victory ensures their place in Monday's fifth-round draw. The Gunners now march into March with all four major trophies still within reach: the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup.
Mikel Arteta will be particularly pleased with the response from players like Eberechi Eze, who silenced his critics with two assists after being substituted at halftime in the previous match against Brentford. The performance demonstrated Arsenal's squad depth and their ability to rotate while maintaining their attacking threat.
For Wigan, the defeat extends their miserable run of form, but they can take some solace from avoiding a more embarrassing scoreline after Arsenal's explosive opening half-hour. The League One side navigated the remainder of the game without conceding further, though they never truly threatened to mount a comeback against their superior opponents.
