Arsenal secures a spot in the FA Cup fifth round with a dominant 4-0 victory over Wigan at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners overwhelm their League One opponents early, netting all four goals within the first 30 minutes. Noni Madueke opens the scoring with a composed finish from Eberechi Eze’s assist, followed by Gabriel Martinelli’s sharp strike, also supplied by Eze. Wigan’s Jack Hunt deflects into his own net for the third, and Gabriel Jesus adds a cool finish to seal the rout. Wigan prevents further damage later, but Mikel Arteta’s team enjoys a perfect afternoon.
Player Ratings
Kepa Arrizabalaga (7): Delivers a sharp save to stop Taylor after a rare defensive error. Rushes out effectively against threats behind the line. Faces minimal pressure in a routine outing for the cup keeper.
Ben White (6): Charges forward tirelessly on the right flank but receives few passes for overlaps. Risks danger with an errant hooked ball into his own penalty area.
William Saliba (7): Returns from illness and glides through the game effortlessly. Wins every duel and shuts down Taylor completely. Exits after 60 minutes with victory assured.
Cristhian Mosquera (8): Handles defensive duties with ease. Dominates one-on-one clashes, boasts 96% pass accuracy, and nearly heads home a goal before strong defending intervenes.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (5): Shifts to left back after Calafiori’s injury blocks a midfield role. Maintains tidy possession but loses pace to Borges Rodrigues and earns a booking for fouling Costelloe. Struggles with recovery speed.
Christian Norgaard (7): Launches a pinpoint long ball for Jesus’s goal. Logs the most touches and distributes several precise passes. Drops back defensively late and picks up a yellow for a mistimed slide.
Eberechi Eze (8): Dictates play upfront with two superb assists, exploiting ample space. Finds dangerous spots in the second half, though final balls and shots fall short.
Bayo Saka (7): Starts unexpectedly in midfield. Links smoothly with Madueke and Eze, adding variety centrally. Lacks a standout moment and departs at halftime.
Noni Madueke (8): Dismantles Wigan’s defense. Slots home coolly to start the scoring and delivers the cross for the third goal. Creates four chances in the first half amid constant chaos for the visitors.
Gabriel Jesus (7): Chips in nonchalantly after Norgaard’s through ball. Drifts leftward without much impact but experiments in a deeper role behind Gyokeres post-break, intriguing Arteta tactically.
Gabriel Martinelli (8): Excels in cup action once more. Accelerates clear for his goal via Eze’s pass and nearly grabs a second until Tickle denies his header. Overpowers his marker repeatedly.
Substitutes
Viktor Gyokeres (for Saka, 46′) (6): Rattles the post with a fierce near-post shot soon after entering. Remains quiet otherwise against weak opposition, managing just seven touches.
Marli Salmon (for Saliba, 61′) (6): 16-year-old earns solid home debut, first at center back then right back. Stays composed on the ball and faces few defensive tests.
Leandro Trossard (for Madueke, 61′) (6): Injects sharpness on the left with skillful twists and a dangerous low cross across goal.
Martin Zubimendi (for White, 79′) (6): Provides a clever clipped pass from the left flank that Martinelli spurns.
Tommy Setford (for Kepa, 87′) (N/A)
