Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium were treated to a dazzling display as the Gunners stormed past Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup fourth round on February 15, 2026. With their eyes firmly set on ending a six-year wait for silverware, Mikel Arteta’s side wasted no time asserting their dominance, netting all four goals inside the opening half-hour and booking their place in the fifth round for the first time since 2020.
Coming into the match, expectations were high for Arsenal, who had previously dispatched Portsmouth 4-1 in the third round, courtesy of a Gabriel Martinelli hat-trick. The Gunners’ midweek 1-1 draw at Brentford was seen as a blip, and Arteta, true to his word, rotated his squad to keep everyone involved. "Yes, that's what we've been doing. I mean, try to make sure that everybody is a big part of what we are doing in different competitions, and Sunday will be the same," Arteta stated in his pre-match press conference, emphasizing the importance of depth and unity in the squad.
Wigan, meanwhile, arrived in North London with their own struggles. Winless in their last eight League One games and sitting in the relegation zone, the Latics had managed just one victory in 2026—a 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Preston North End. That cup win, however, stood as a rare highlight in a season marked by turbulence, including the sacking of manager Ryan Lowe after 11 months in charge. Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow stepped in as interim managers, hoping to inspire a cup upset reminiscent of Wigan’s famous 2013 FA Cup win. Graham Barrow, reflecting on the challenge, remarked, "Fear is a positive thing for the players. It's like nerves. You read about top sportsmen, who say you need nerves otherwise you don't care about it. It has always been part of it. You have to learn to deal with it. You can't be that nervous that you're frightened...you need to use it as a motivator."
The confirmed team news saw Arsenal line up with Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, a back four of White, Saliba, Mosquera, and Calafiori, with Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, and Eze in midfield. The attacking trio featured Madueke, Martinelli, and Jesus. Notably, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino missed out due to injury, while William Saliba returned after illness. Bukayo Saka, initially named on the bench, was thrust into the starting lineup at the last minute after Riccardo Calafiori pulled out during the warm-up. For Wigan, the starting eleven included Tickle, Fox, Aimson, Kerr, Hunt, Murray, Weir, Moxon, Raphael, Wright, and Taylor, with several regulars sidelined through injury or recent returns to training.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal were relentless. In the 11th minute, Eberechi Eze, eager to make an impression after being substituted at halftime in midweek, picked up the ball near halfway and sliced open the Wigan defense with a perfectly weighted pass. Noni Madueke latched onto it and coolly slotted past Sam Tickle, giving the hosts an early lead. Just seven minutes later, Eze was the architect again, threading a ball to Gabriel Martinelli, who finished clinically into the corner. The Emirates crowd could sense something special brewing.
Wigan’s woes deepened in the 24th minute when Jack Hunt inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear after slick interplay between Saka and Madueke. Saka, deployed in a central midfield role for the first time in an Arsenal shirt, looked comfortable and energetic, linking play and providing a new dimension to the Gunners’ attack. The England international’s return to fitness was a welcome sight for Arteta and the home faithful.
Arsenal’s fourth arrived in the 27th minute, capping a devastating spell. Christian Norgaard, another of Arteta’s midfield pivots, slipped a clever pass to Gabriel Jesus, who chipped the advancing Tickle with aplomb. The Gunners had become the first Premier League side to score four goals inside the opening half-hour of an FA Cup match, a statistic that underlined their utter dominance.
Wigan, to their credit, didn’t fold entirely. They carved out a rare chance when Joe Taylor found space and fired on goal, only to be denied by a sharp save from Arrizabalaga. Arsenal, meanwhile, continued to probe, with substitute Viktor Gyokeres striking the post in the second half, but the urgency had understandably waned after such a rampant start.
The match also provided opportunities for Arsenal’s emerging talents. Sixteen-year-old defender Marli Salmon made his home debut, replacing Saliba, while 19-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford also saw action. Arteta used the occasion to manage minutes and build confidence among the squad, a luxury afforded by the early onslaught.
Gabriel Martinelli’s cup form has been a revelation this season. While he’s struggled for goals in the Premier League, his strike against Wigan brought his tally to ten in just thirteen appearances across European and domestic cup competitions. That made him the first Arsenal player since Ian Wright in the 1994-95 season to notch double figures in cup and European matches in a single campaign. The Brazilian’s knack for rising to the occasion in knockout football could be pivotal as the Gunners chase multiple trophies.
For Wigan, the result was another tough pill to swallow in a season already full of adversity. Their focus will quickly return to the League One relegation battle, with a crucial fixture against Luton looming. Despite the heavy defeat, the FA Cup run offered a brief respite and a reminder of the club’s storied relationship with the competition, including their historic 2013 triumph.
Tim Robinson officiated the tie, with Ian Hussin and Marc Perry assisting, and Andrew Madley as fourth official. Notably, there was no VAR in use at the Emirates for this fixture, a rarity in major cup ties but in keeping with FA Cup tradition outside the Premier League.
As the final whistle sounded, Arsenal’s supporters could look ahead with optimism. The Gunners remain alive in four competitions and, on this evidence, boast the depth and quality to challenge on multiple fronts. Their next test comes in the Premier League against Wolves, while Wigan regroup for a vital league clash. For now, though, Arsenal’s FA Cup journey continues, and after a performance like this, who could blame them for dreaming?