FA Cup: Arsenal book fifth round spot with 4-0 win over Wigan

Arsenal have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years after a commanding 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s men, who are still chasing success on multiple fronts this season, made their intentions clear early in the fourth-round clash at the Emirates Stadium.

They scored four goals within the opening 27 minutes to put the game beyond the reach of the third-tier visitors.

Noni Madueke opened the scoring before Gabriel Martinelli added the second. Wigan’s misery deepened when Jack Hunt turned the ball into his own net, and Gabriel Jesus rounded off the first-half blitz with the fourth goal.

The victory sends the Gunners into the last 16 of the competition for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2020 — a triumph that remains the only major silverware secured under Arteta so far.

Holding a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League, through to the League Cup final against Manchester City and into the Champions League last 16, Arsenal could end their silverware drought with a remarkable quadruple this season.

“We made a lot of changes because of players who needed minutes. The intensity that we showed, the connections between players and the threat we had, I’m very pleased. The first half made a difference, obviously,” Arteta said.

Arsenal’s latest FA Cup clash with Wigan lacked the drama of their previous one in 2014 — a semi-final win featuring a penalty shoot-out goal from then Gunners captain Arteta.

Wigan have fallen on hard times since arriving in north London, stuck in the League One relegation zone and led by interim boss Glenn Whelan after Ryan Lowe’s recent sacking.

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori was injured in the pre-match warm-up, forcing Arteta to bring Bukayo Saka back into the line-up instead of resting the England winger.

Despite the late reshuffle, it took just 11 minutes for Arsenal to go in front.

Arteta gave Eberechi Eze another start despite hauling the England midfielder off at half-time after his latest disappointing display in Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford.

Eze repaid Arteta’s faith, cleverly turning into space for a superb pass to Madueke, who raced into the Wigan area and finished with aplomb.

Eze, signed from Crystal Palace last year, provided another assist in the 18th minute.

He guided a pin-point pass to Martinelli and the Brazilian stroked a cool finish into the far corner from 12 yards.

Arsenal’s third goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Wigan defender Hunt headed Saka’s cross into his own net.

Arteta’s men showed no mercy as Christian Norgaard’s pass sent Jesus clean through for a delicate chip over Wigan keeper Sam Tickle in the 27th minute.

Arsenal will resume their push for a first English title since 2004 at bottom of the table Wolves on Wednesday.

– Fulham hit back –

Leeds survived a penalty shoot-out to edge past second-tier Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

Birmingham substitute Patrick Roberts snatched an 89th-minute equaliser to cancel out Lukas Nmecha’s 49th-minute opener for Leeds.

With a feisty fourth round tie level at 1-1 after extra-time, Leeds won the shoot-out 4-2.

Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all converted their penalties for Daniel Farke’s team.

Battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, Leeds are one win away from reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003.

Wolves also avoided an upset as they won 1-0 at fourth-division Grimsby.

Grimsby stunned Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season.

But Wolves avoided similar embarrassment thanks to Santiago Bueno’s 60th-minute goal from the visitors’ first shot on target on a mud-caked pitch at Blundell Park.

It was Wolves’ first away win since beating Manchester United in April.

Fulham came from behind to win 2-1 at Stoke, while Sunderland won 1-0 at Oxford.

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