Arsenal face Wigan in the FA Cup
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal are set to give some of their big guns a rest when they play Wigan in the FA Cup.
The Gunners host League One side Wigan in the fourth round and Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his side significantly ahead of some big games in the Premier League title race.
It has been a typically busy period for Arsenal and with this match coming only three days after Thursday’s draw with Brentford, Arteta is set to shuffle his pack ahead of trips to Wolves and Tottenham next week.
Cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal and there should be minutes for Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who have had very limited involvement in recent weeks.
William Saliba missed the Brentford match due to illness. That is understood to be a short-term issue but there is every chance he is rested against Wigan anyway.
Arteta's midfield options are more limited than he would like.
Mikel Merino faces a long spell out after foot surgery and Kai Havertz will miss this match with a muscle issue, though Max Dowman is now back in training after an ankle injury.
Martin Odegaard made his return on Thursday night against Brentford, but he was seen limping heavily after the match having received treatment during the second half on a knee problem.
It means Eberechi Eze should get another chance to impress despite his recent struggles, and Lewis-Skelly could get rare minutes in midfield.
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In attack, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli could come into the side. Bukayo Saka is fit again after a hip issue and needs minutes to get up to speed again, but starting here would be a surprise.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Jesus
Injured: Havertz, Merino
Doubts: Saliba, Odegaard, Dowman
Date and time: 3pm on Sunday, February 15 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV channel: TNT Sports