Arsenal 4-0 Wigan Athletic: First-half blitz sees Arteta´s men into fifth round

Arsenal eased into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium, where all their goals came in the first 27 minutes.

The Gunners became the first Premier League team to score four goals in the opening half-hour of an FA Cup tie, as they overcame the frustration of seeing full-back Riccardo Calafiori pull up injured in the warm-up.

Eberechi Eze cast aside criticism of his performances by assisting the first two goals, teeing up Noni Madueke for a side-footed finish then offloading for Gabriel Martinelli to pick out the bottom corner from the left side of the area.

There was a huge hint of fortune about Arsenal’s third goal as Bukayo Saka – a late replacement for Calafiori in the lineup – provided a dangerous centre that Jack Hunt turned past his own goalkeeper.

And it was 4-0 soon afterwards as Christian Norgaard slipped Gabriel Jesus in behind, and the Brazilian confidently lifted his finish over Sam Tickle.

Kepa Arrizabalaga made a good save to deny Joe Taylor and preserve Arsenal’s clean sheet, then Viktor Gyokeres smashed an effort against the foot of the near post, having replaced Saka at half-time.

Eze lashed into the side netting and Martinelli saw a header brilliantly kept out by Tickle as Wigan, who are still seeking a new manager after sacking Ryan Lowe last week, avoided suffering any further damage.

4 – Arsenal are the first Premier League team (from 1992-93) to score four goals in the opening 30 minutes of an FA Cup game. Domination. pic.twitter.com/EQviDbYZel

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 15, 2026

Data Debrief: Martinelli provides more cup heroics

Arsenal’s early blitz saw three different players get on the scoresheet in addition to Hunt’s own goal, with Martinelli striking for the fourth time in this FA Cup campaign.

Having helped himself to a hat-trick against Portsmouth in round three, Martinelli is the first Arsenal player to score four times in a single edition of the FA Cup since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when they won the competition in 2019-20 – that was also the last time they reached the fifth round.

Martinelli, who has just one goal in 20 Premier League appearances in 2025-26, has 10 goals in 13 matches in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League this term.

Arsenal won the expected goals (xG) battle by 2.35 to 0.36, with Wigan conceding four times in the first half of a match for the first time on Opta record (since at least 2013-14).