FA Cup highlights: Arsenal 4-0 Wigan
Arsenal moved into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over Wigan on Sunday (ET), the tie decided inside the opening half hour as the hosts overwhelmed League One opposition. Eberechi Eze played a starring role, supplying two incisive assists in a performance that suggested renewed confidence ahead of a busy run of fixtures.
Eze inspires early onslaught
Eze, operating in a deeper midfield role alongside Christian Nørgaard, produced two measured through balls that unlocked Wigan's defence and set up Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli for clinical finishes. Arsenal were ruthless in the opening exchanges, racing into a 4-0 lead after just 27 minutes and effectively ending the contest early.
The England midfielder's swagger returned after a testing spell; he had been substituted at half-time in the midweek draw and has battled for consistent minutes this season, but Sunday offered a timely reminder of his creative quality. Nørgaard's composed control in midfield anchored Arsenal's possession and earned him praise for his handling of the role.
Arteta's rotated XI delivers
Managerial rotation was in evidence as Arsenal made several changes to manage a congested schedule and give fringe players minutes. That preparation paid off: the changed side combined pace and verticality to open the game up quickly.
A last-minute injury to Riccardo Calafiori in the warm-up forced a reshuffle that denied Myles Lewis-Skelly a rare start in midfield and saw Bukayo Saka introduced in an unfamiliar No. 10 role. Despite the disruption, the team displayed sharp connection and intensity in the first half, an outcome the manager highlighted when praising both the immediate intent and the collective performance.
Arteta also used the game to blood younger members of the squad off the bench, offering them valuable experience while protecting key starters ahead of a congested period that includes Premier League and cup commitments. He reiterated that squad depth will be essential as the season progresses and acknowledged a few minor knocks to assess in the coming days.
Wigan's struggles continue
Wigan, who came into the match entrenched in a difficult league run, set up with a back five but were unable to withstand Arsenal's early pressure. The visitors' priorities appear focused on arresting a poor league run, and the gulf in class was exposed when they abandoned their initial defensive plan after conceding repeatedly in quick succession.
Having taken heavy defeats in recent weeks and seen changes in their coaching ranks, Wigan offered limited resistance against a top-level Premier League side rotating its squad. The result will do little to ease concerns in the lower division, where immediate attention must return to survival matters.
Arsenal's emphatic progression keeps their quadruple hopes alive and gives fringe players a boost of confidence heading into a demanding stretch of fixtures. For Eze, a strong display may have come at the perfect time as the club seeks fresh attacking options amid a growing injury list.
