Arsenal scored four goals inside 27 minutes to beat Wigan 4-0 at the Emirates and reach the FA Cup fifth round with ease.
Arsenal powered into the FA Cup fifth round with a dominant 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic. The tie was effectively settled inside the opening half hour at a packed Emirates Stadium. Arsenal struck four times before the 27th minute and never looked back. It marked their first appearance in the fifth round since 2020.
Arsenal began with sharp intensity and immediate control of possession. Wigan struggled to settle as the hosts pressed aggressively across midfield. The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute through Noni Madueke. A precise through ball split the defence and Madueke finished calmly past Sam Tickle.
The early goal only increased Arsenal’s confidence. Passing lanes opened up as Wigan dropped deeper. The crowd sensed the tie was already tilting one way.
The second goal followed quickly in the 18th minute. Gabriel Martinelli raced onto another incisive pass and guided his finish into the corner. Arsenal’s movement overwhelmed Wigan’s back line. The visitors barely crossed the halfway line during this spell.
Five minutes later came further damage. Bukayo Saka’s low delivery caused confusion in the area. Defender Jack Hunt diverted the ball into his own net under pressure. At 3-0, the contest was slipping away fast.
Arsenal completed the four-goal blitz in the 27th minute. Christian Nørgaard played a perfectly weighted ball over the top. Gabriel Jesus timed his run well and lifted a composed finish over the advancing goalkeeper. Arsenal became the first Premier League side to score four goals inside 30 minutes of an FA Cup match.
From that point, the hosts eased their tempo. Wigan regrouped defensively and limited further damage before the break. The halftime whistle arrived as welcome relief for the visitors.
The second half was calmer but still one sided. Arsenal kept possession and rotated positions fluidly. Wigan showed more organisation and worked harder without the ball. Their best chance came when Joe Taylor tested Kepa Arrizabalaga, who produced a strong save.
Substitute Viktor Gyökeres came close to adding a fifth for Arsenal. His first time effort struck the post midway through the half. Despite chances, the scoreline remained unchanged.
The statistics reflected Arsenal’s authority. The hosts recorded an expected goals total of 1.44 from sustained pressure. Wigan managed just 0.20 xG across the match. Arsenal also registered six shots on target while conceding very few clear openings.
The early goals shaped every metric. Possession, territory, and chance quality all leaned heavily one way. It was a controlled performance after the opening chaos.
Eberechi Eze stood out with two assists in the opening exchanges. Madueke and Martinelli provided pace and directness throughout. Jesus led the line intelligently and finished clinically. Young debutants also gained valuable minutes late on as Arsenal managed the game professionally.
Arsenal advance to the FA Cup fifth round and remain active in four competitions. Attention now turns back to the Premier League with an away trip to Wolves on Wednesday. Wigan return to League One action at home against Luton on the same night. For Arsenal, the early job was done and done efficiently.
