Preview: Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic — FA Cup fourth round clash at the Emirates

Arsenal welcome Wigan Athletic to the Emirates Stadium for an FA Cup fourth round tie kicking off at 11: 30am ET. The fixture revives an old cup rivalry — the sides last met in the 2014 semi-final — but the headlines this weekend are dominated by Wigan's off-field turmoil and Arsenal's selection choices as Mikel Arteta juggles a busy schedule.

Context and momentum

Arsenal come into the tie buoyed by a commanding 4-1 win over Portsmouth in the third round, a match that featured a hat-trick from Gabriel Martinelli. That result keeps the Gunners on course in the cup while they remain active across multiple competitions this season. Managerial comments in the build-up stress the value of the FA Cup as an opportunity to rotate and maintain momentum: "It's an opportunity for the team, again, with another competition, and the history that we have related to that competition, it's amazing. We'll play at home again. I'm really excited to recover and go again. "

For Wigan, the cup offers a rare bright spot amid a difficult League One campaign. The Latics stunned Preston North End away in the third round but have since struggled domestically, slipping into the relegation zone. That poor run culminated in the departure of Ryan Lowe; Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow step in on an interim basis for the trip to north London. Barrow emphasised the emotional side of cup football: "Fear is a positive thing for the players. It's like nerves.... You need to use it as a motivator. "

Team news, injuries and likely approach

Arsenal's squad selection will be influenced by recent knocks and minor illnesses. Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a foot injury. Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard returned from the bench in the midweek league game but may be eased back into full starts; William Saliba missed the last match with illness and Kai Havertz picked up a knock. Expect rotation as Arteta balances cup ambition with league commitments.

Wigan arrive without fresh injury concerns following their defeat to Reading, though the internal disruption of a managerial change will shape their preparation. Interim coaches may revert to a pragmatic gameplan: sitting deep, absorbing possession and seeking chances on the break. Historically low possession figures have been a feature of Wigan’s season; in League One they average roughly 44. 6% possession and dropped to around 30. 5% in the cup upset at Preston. That suggests Arsenal will control the ball for long spells and will need to break down a compact defensive block.

Tactical matchups and players to watch

Arsenal should expect a Wigan side that leans on its right flank for attacking thrusts. Fraser Murray’s crossing volume has been notable in League One, while former academy forward Matt Smith brings technical quality and experience in cup ties. Wigan have shown a willingness to vary formation under their former boss, and interim coaches could alternate shapes to cause disruption; recent experiments have included 3-1-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2.

For Arsenal, the onus will be on creative outlets and wide attackers to stretch the visitors and exploit the space left when Wigan attempt counters. Martinelli’s recent form in the competition will keep him in focus, while rotation could hand opportunities to squad players keen to stake claims as the season reaches its business end.

This FA Cup clash is a classic tie on paper: a top-flight side managing fixture congestion against lower-league opposition eager for a marquee upset. Arsenal will be heavy favourites at the Emirates, but Wigan’s cup pedigree and the fresh impetus of interim management mean nothing will be taken for granted. Kickoff is scheduled for 11: 30am ET, with both teams aware that a single result could swing momentum in very different directions.