Arsenal secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a clinical 4-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.
The contest was effectively settled within a frantic opening half-hour as the Gunners struck four times to overwhelm their League One visitors.
Early goals from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, both assisted by the influential Eberechi Eze, set the tone before an own goal from Jack Hunt and a clever Gabriel Jesus finish compounded Wigan’s misery.
While the scoring dried up in the second half, Mikel Arteta was able to rotate his squad and hand a home debut to academy prospect Marli Salmon.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Kepa Arrizabalaga: 7
The Spaniard produced a vital stop to deny Joe Taylor following a lapse in concentration from the Arsenal backline. He was alert to danger and proactive when sweeping up behind his defense, enjoying a relatively peaceful afternoon otherwise.
Ben White: 6
A persistent presence on the right flank, though his overlapping runs were frequently ignored by teammates. He remained reliable but nearly gifted Wigan a goal with a misplaced defensive clearance into his own penalty area.
William Saliba: 7
Returning from a bout of illness, the Frenchman looked entirely composed. He dominated his individual duels and ensured the Wigan attack had no room to breathe before being rested at the hour mark.
Cristhian Mosquera: 8
The defender looked exceptionally comfortable throughout, recording a 96% pass completion rate. He marshaled the defense with ease and was inches away from marking his performance with a goal at the other end.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: 6
Shunted to left-back following Riccardo Calafiori’s injury in the warm-up, the youngster struggled defensively. He was caught out for pace on several occasions and received a caution for a cynical foul after being beaten.
Christian Norgaard: 8
The midfielder dictated play from deep, recording the most touches of any player on the pitch. His afternoon was highlighted by a superb lofted ball that provided the assist for Gabriel Jesus’ fourth goal.
Eberechi Eze: 8
The playmaker was the architect of Wigan’s downfall, providing two exquisite assists early in the match. He constantly found pockets of space and, while his final product dipped slightly in the second half, he remained the game’s creative hub.
Bukayo Saka: 7
A surprise inclusion in a more central midfield role, the winger adapted well to the tactical shift. While he didn’t grab the headlines, his link-up play was sharp before he was substituted at the interval.
Noni Madueke: 8
Madueke was a constant nightmare for the Wigan defenders. He opened the scoring with a composed finish and played a key role in the third goal, creating four clear-cut chances during a dominant first-half display.
Gabriel Jesus: 7
The Brazilian led the line effectively and showed his class with a delicate chipped finish. He worked hard across the front line and transitioned into a deeper creative role in the second half following tactical changes.
Gabriel Martinelli: 8
Displaying his usual cup-tie intensity, the winger was too fast for the opposition to handle. He finished clinically for the second goal and was denied a brace only by a fine save late in the game.
Substitutes
Viktor Gyokeres (Saka 46’): 6
The striker was unlucky to see a low effort strike the post shortly after his introduction. Aside from that moment, he found it difficult to get involved in the play.
Marli Salmon (Saliba 61’): 6
A proud moment for the 16-year-old making his home debut. He looked secure in possession and was rarely troubled during his time in the heart of the defense.
Leandro Trossard (Madueke 61’): 6
The Belgian provided a lively spark off the bench, worrying the Wigan defense with his direct dribbling and sending several dangerous crosses into the box.
Martin Zubimendi (White 79’): 6
Entering for the final ten minutes, he showcased his vision with a delightful delivery that should have resulted in a fifth goal for Martinelli.
Tommy Setford (Kepa 87’): N/A