Arsenal stormed into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years with a dominant 4–0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side blew away the League One strugglers with four goals inside the opening 27 minutes of the fourth-round clash.
Noni Madueke opened the scoring before Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead. Jack Hunt then turned Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own net, and Gabriel Jesus capped the blistering start with a composed chip over the goalkeeper.
The win sends Arsenal 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 advantage at the top of the Premier League, a League Cup final against Manchester City to come, and progression to the Champions League last 16, the Gunners remain in contention for 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.
Fast Start at the Emirates
Despite losing Riccardo Calafiori to injury in the warm-up, prompting Arteta to reinstate Saka into the starting lineup, Arsenal wasted little time asserting control.
Madueke broke the deadlock in the 11th minute after a clever pass from Eberechi Eze, who retained his place despite being substituted at half-time in the recent draw at Brentford.
Eze turned provider again seven minutes later, delivering a precise through ball for Martinelli to calmly finish into the far corner.
Saka’s cross then forced Hunt into an own goal in the 23rd minute before Christian Norgaard’s pass sent Jesus clear to delicately chip home the fourth.
Arsenal will shift focus back to their Premier League title pursuit when they face bottom club Wolves on Wednesday, as they chase a first English league crown since 2004.
Leeds Survive Shoot-out, Wolves and Fulham Advance
Leeds United edged past Championship side Birmingham City on penalties after a tense 1–1 draw at St Andrew’s.
Lukas Nmecha gave Leeds the lead early in the second half, but substitute Patrick Roberts equalised in the 89th minute to force extra time. With the tie still level, Leeds triumphed 4–2 in the shoot-out, with Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all converting their spot-kicks.
Wolves avoided a potential upset with a narrow 1–0 win at League Two side Grimsby Town. Santiago Bueno’s 60th-minute strike, the visitors’ first shot on target, proved decisive on a heavy pitch at Blundell Park.
Fulham also came from behind to secure a 2–1 victory at Stoke City, while Sunderland claimed a 1–0 win at Oxford United to book their place in the next round.
What you should know
Arsenal advanced to the FA Cup fifth round with a commanding 4–0 win over Wigan, scoring all four goals within 27 minutes.
The Gunners remain in contention for multiple trophies this season.
Elsewhere, Leeds progressed via penalties, Wolves edged past Grimsby, and Fulham and Sunderland also secured victories.
