Arsenal booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years with a ruthless 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side effectively settled the fourth-round tie within 27 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, racing into a four-goal lead. Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli struck early before an own goal from Jack Hunt and a composed finish from Gabriel Jesus completed the demolition.
The win sends the Gunners into the last 16 for the first time since lifting the FA Cup in 2020 — still the only major trophy of Arteta’s tenure.
With a four-point cushion at the top of the Premier League, a League Cup final looming against Manchester City, and progression to the Champions League round of 16 secured, Arsenal remain in contention for an ambitious quadruple.
“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,” said Mikel Arteta.
This latest meeting lacked the drama of their 2014 semi-final clash, when Arsenal prevailed in a penalty shoot-out. Wigan, now battling relegation in League One, arrived under interim boss Glenn Whelan following the dismissal of Ryan Lowe.
Arsenal were forced into a late change when defender Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury during the warm-up, prompting Arteta to reinstate Bukayo Saka.
The hosts wasted little time asserting control. Madueke opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a clever assist from Eberechi Eze. Eze then turned provider again seven minutes later, threading a precise pass for Martinelli to slot home.
Saka’s cross forced Hunt into an own goal in the 23rd minute before Christian Norgaard’s through ball allowed Jesus to chip goalkeeper Sam Tickle delicately for the fourth.
Arsenal turn their focus back to the league with a midweek trip to face Wolves as they chase a first English top-flight title since 2004.
Leeds survive shoot-Out as Wolves, Fulham progress
Leeds United advanced after edging past Birmingham City on penalties at St Andrew’s.
Substitute Patrick Roberts equalised late for Birmingham after Lukas Nmecha had given Leeds the lead. With the tie finishing 1-1 after extra-time, Leeds triumphed 4-2 in the shoot-out, with Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff converting their spot-kicks.
Wolverhampton Wanderers avoided a shock defeat with a 1-0 win at Grimsby Town, courtesy of Santiago Bueno’s 60th-minute strike.
Fulham came from behind to beat Stoke City 2-1, while Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory at Oxford United.
