Premier League leaders Arsenal delivered a dominant performance at the Emirates Stadium on February 15, 2026, dispatching League One strugglers Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup fourth round. The Gunners, fresh from a tough 1-1 draw at Brentford just days earlier, took full advantage of the home fixture, making sweeping changes to their lineup and capitalizing on Wigan’s recent turmoil.
Arsenal entered the contest with several notable absences. Captain Martin Ødegaard, who has endured a season plagued by injuries, was once again sidelined after picking up a knee problem during the Brentford match. In his pre-match notes, Ødegaard detailed the incident: “I picked up a bit of an injury when they [Brentford] scored their goal, but hopefully it’s not too bad. I tried to clear the ball as it came down, but instead kicked into the player a bit, and ended up over-stretching my leg, which pinched the knee. I was able to carry on, but on Friday morning it was very sore, I was worried of course.” Though he expressed hope the injury was not serious, manager Mikel Arteta opted not to risk his influential playmaker.
The injury woes didn’t stop there. Arsenal were also without Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino, both nursing muscular and ankle injuries, respectively. In a last-minute twist, Riccardo Calafiori was forced to withdraw from the starting XI after picking up an issue during the warm-up. This reshuffle saw Myles Lewis-Skelly move to left back and Bukayo Saka drafted into a central midfield role off the bench. Arteta’s rotation extended further, giving Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera starts in defense while resting regulars Gabriel Magalhães and Jurriën Timber. Christian Nørgaard and Eberechi Eze anchored the midfield, with Eze reprising his role as Ødegaard’s stand-in.
Despite the changes, Arsenal wasted no time asserting their authority. The match kicked off at 11:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. GMT), and within the first half hour, the Gunners had already put the tie to bed. Eberechi Eze orchestrated the opening goal, slicing through Wigan’s defense with a clever disguised pass to Noni Madueke, who coolly slotted home in the 11th minute. The Emirates crowd barely had time to settle before Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead in the 19th, finishing confidently after another incisive assist from Eze.
Wigan’s resistance crumbled further just minutes later. In the 23rd minute, a Saka cross was flicked on by Gabriel Jesus, only for the ball to ricochet off Wigan defender Hunt and into his own net. The own goal summed up the Latics’ season—a campaign marked by misfortune and managerial upheaval. By the 27th minute, Jesus himself rounded off the scoring in the first half, dinking the ball home after being picked out by a superb ball over the top from Nørgaard. The Gunners became the first Premier League team since 1992-93 to score four goals in the opening 30 minutes of an FA Cup match, a testament to their overwhelming dominance.
"Are you Tottenham in disguise?" rang out from the jubilant Arsenal supporters, a playful jab at their North London rivals and a sign of the confidence in the stands. By halftime, with a 4-0 lead, the contest had the feel of a training exercise more than a knockout cup tie. Wigan, who had managed a few half-chances, saw their best opportunity denied by Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa, who saved well from Joe Taylor’s close-range effort.
The second half saw further rotation from Arteta. Bukayo Saka, who had been called upon at the last minute, was substituted at halftime for Viktor Gyokeres, with Gabriel Jesus shifting to a No. 10 role. Despite the changes, Arsenal maintained control, though they eased off the relentless pace of the opening 45 minutes. Myles Lewis-Skelly came close to adding a fifth, his powerful effort from the edge of the box flying just over the bar.
For Wigan, the defeat was another blow in a challenging campaign. The Latics, sitting 22nd in League One and two points adrift of safety, have now gone seven matches without a win. Their season has been marred by instability, including the recent sacking of manager Ryan Lowe after a dismal run. Interim boss Glenn Whelan, a former Stoke City and Ireland midfielder, was tasked with steadying the ship, but his side was simply outclassed by a team 65 places above them in the English football pyramid. Wigan’s starting lineup featured Tickle in goal, Hunt, Kerr, and Aimson in defense, and an attacking trio of Wright, Rodrigues, and Taylor—who leads the club with seven goals this season. Yet, against Arsenal’s quality and depth, the Latics never truly threatened an upset.
Arsenal’s performance was all the more impressive given their ability to rotate key personnel while maintaining fluency and attacking threat. The likes of Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, and Christian Nørgaard seized their opportunities to impress, while Eze’s creativity in midfield provided a tantalizing glimpse of the squad’s depth. Arteta’s men, currently four points clear at the top of the Premier League, now look ahead to crucial league fixtures against Wolves and archrivals Tottenham Hotspur, with the FA Cup last 16 secured.
Reflecting on the match, it’s clear the gulf between the two clubs has only widened since their last meeting in 2014, when Arsenal narrowly edged Wigan in an FA Cup semi-final shootout. While Wigan’s focus will now shift to their relegation battle in League One, Arsenal can take heart from a professional display that balanced squad management with ruthless efficiency in front of goal.
As the final whistle blew at the Emirates, Arsenal fans could savor a comfortable cup win and the promise of a deep FA Cup run, while Wigan were left to regroup and fight for survival in the weeks ahead.