Arsenal will be looking to breeze past Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup as the Premier League leaders look to beat the League One strugglers
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on February 07, 2026 in London, England.
Mikel Arteta can secure Arsenal's spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup this weekend(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Arsenal and Wigan Athletic are set to renew acquaintances in the FA Cup fourth round this Sunday at the Emirates Stadium, rekindling memories of their dramatic 2013-14 semi-final encounter. The Gunners advanced with a commanding 4-1 victory over Portsmouth in the previous round, while Wigan pulled off a surprise 1-0 win at Preston North End to book their place against the Premier League leaders.
Arsenal, the FA Cup’s most decorated club with 14 titles, have surprisingly failed to progress beyond the fourth round since their 2020 triumph at an empty Wembley. Their campaigns in 2020-21 and 2022-23 ended at this stage, falling to Southampton and Manchester City respectively. However, Mikel Arteta’s side—still in the hunt for multiple trophies—made a statement in their opener, dispatching Portsmouth with ease. Gabriel Martinelli’s hat-trick was the highlight, with all four Arsenal goals coming from set pieces, making them the competition’s most prolific team from dead-ball situations so far.
Despite their cup success, Arsenal approach the weekend looking to bounce back after a 1-1 Premier League draw with Brentford on Thursday, a result that trimmed their lead over Manchester City to just four points. Whether this signals a wobble remains to be seen, but the Gunners have won their last three home matches since a shock defeat to Manchester United, and will be confident on familiar turf.
Wigan, meanwhile, pulled off one of the third round’s upsets by defeating Championship side Preston North End courtesy of a Harrison Bettoni goal. This marked their first 90-minute win in this season’s competition, having previously needed penalties to get past Barrow and Hemel Hempstead. The 2012-13 FA Cup winners are making a second straight fourth-round appearance, but they haven’t reached the fifth round since 2017-18, when they famously knocked out Manchester City before losing to Southampton in the quarter-finals.
Since their win at Preston, however, Wigan’s form has nosedived, with five losses and a draw in their last six League One outings. Their recent struggles led to the departure of manager Ryan Lowe, with Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow stepping in as interim bosses while the club searches for a permanent replacement—Exeter City’s Gary Caldwell is reportedly a leading candidate. As things stand, Wigan remain mired in the League One relegation zone.
Sunday’s clash will be the first meeting between Arsenal and Wigan since that memorable 2013-14 semi-final, when Lukasz Fabianski’s penalty heroics sent the Gunners to the final. Both sides will be eager to write a new chapter in their FA Cup history.
Arsenal vs Wigan Team News
Arsenal were dealt two fresh injury concerns on Thursday: William Saliba missed the draw with Brentford due to illness, while Martin Odegaard picked up a knee injury on his return from a previous knock. Although both players could recover in time for Sunday’s FA Cup clash, they are unlikely to be risked and are expected to join Mikel Merino (foot), Max Dowman (ankle), and Kai Havertz (muscle) on the sidelines.
Third-round hat-trick hero Gabriel Martinelli is set to return to the starting lineup, along with several other Arsenal players including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Christian Norgaard.
For Wigan, Baba Adeeko and Luke Robinson have resumed training after recent injuries, but neither is expected to be fit for the trip to North London. Harry McHugh is still working his way back to fitness, while James Carragher, who has missed Wigan’s last two matches with a knock, remains a doubt for the fourth round. On a positive note, Jason Kerr has returned from injury and is set to captain the side, while Sam Tickle—once linked with a move to Arsenal—will start in goal.
Arsenal vs Wigan Prediction
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