FA Cup LIVE: Arsenal hit four as Leeds, Fulham, Wolves and Sunderland join them in fifth round

Arsenal produced a dominant display, scoring four goals in a 30-minute spell to see off Wigan and book a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. It was a strong night across the competition as Leeds, Fulham, Wolves and Sunderland also advanced, while non-league Macclesfield prepare for a huge home tie with Premier League opposition tomorrow night (ET).

Arsenal romp into fifth round; youngsters given minutes

Arsenal finished strongly to kill the tie off, netting four times in a blistering period and easing past lower-league opponents. Midfielder Christian Norgaard underlined the squad's balance and readiness after the game, praising the team's focus and the contribution of younger players.

"We have looked really solid in the early stages of these competitions and it's all about keeping that momentum. I thought the first-half was really, really good and that always makes the second-half a little bit slower. I thought the focus was really good and we didn't give a lot away in the second. Very positive, " Norgaard said.

He also singled out academy products for their brief but promising cameos. "I thought they did really well, both of them. We see them every day in training and how they compete at the same level us. Marli Salmon has had a few more games than Tommy Setford, so I think I need to highlight Tommy today. I know it was only five or six minutes... but well done to him and hopefully more games in the future for him for Arsenal. "

On the squad's depth, Norgaard added: "You need to fulfill the role you have been given and it will be like that for the whole season. You never know when the manager will point at you, and you have to be ready to perform. I think today a lot of us showed today that we are ready when we are needed and we have a depth that will be useful towards the end of the season. "

Wolves, Fulham, Leeds and Sunderland also progress

Wolves edged past Grimsby in testing conditions on a very muddy pitch, with a late effort from Bueno sealing the victory. Manager Rob Edwards highlighted the challenge posed by the surface and praised his players' mentality in grinding out the result.

"They were really difficult conditions and it was a challenging game. It was all set up for a cup upset because of the conditions, how we're doing and how they're doing. But we did the job, we were professional, " Edwards said, noting the squad's preparation and focus. He explained his limited use of substitutes by saying he did not want to disrupt the settled rhythm of players who had warmed up and were performing well on the pitch. With a Premier League meeting with Arsenal coming midweek, he added: "We've got to recover well now. It'll be a completely different game but we look forward to it. "

Fulham produced a comeback at Stoke, with a duo of decisive contributors — referenced in the match coverage as Reed and Kevin — turning the tie in their favour. Leeds needed penalties to get past Birmingham, while Sunderland recorded a narrow 1-0 win at Oxford, a match noted for Oxford's spirited display despite elimination.

Across the ties, competitiveness and drama underlined the unpredictability that defines this stage of the competition: penalties, gritty away wins and late levellers all played their part.

Looking ahead: non-league shock bids and a busy midweek

As the fifth-round field begins to take shape, all eyes shift briefly to tomorrow night (ET) when non-league Macclesfield will host a top-flight opponent in one of the more intriguing cup fixtures left on the calendar. The FA Cup has a rich history of upsets at this stage, and another giant-killing would be embraced by neutral fans.

For the Premier League sides that advanced, the focus now turns to juggling cup ambitions with the demands of league schedules in what promises to be a packed fortnight. Smaller clubs will seek to use their momentum and confidence from spirited performances to press on in the competition, while top-flight squads will balance rotation with the need to maintain winning runs.

That's the round wrapped up for now: Arsenal, Leeds, Fulham, Wolves and Sunderland have all booked their spots in round five. The next wave of fixtures will test depth, determination and, on some pitches, the ability to handle difficult conditions.