Callum Wright jostles for the ball in midfieldplaceholder image
Callum Wright jostles for the ball in midfield
Wigan Athletic's FA Cup journey ended at the fourth-round stage as Premier League leaders Arsenal enjoyed a convincing 4-0 victory - with all of the damage being done in the first 28 minutes.
The Gunners opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Eberechi Eze played a clever no-look pass to Noni Madueki, who fired past the advancing Sam Tickle.
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Seven minutes later, Eze was again the architect as he sent Gabriel Martinelli through on goal, and again the finish was clinical and gave Tickle no chance.
Arsenal's third goal came in slapstick fashion, as a cross from the right took a deflection, and hit the head of the unsuspecting Jack Hunt on its way into the net.
And it was 4-0 with less than half an hour on the clock, as Gabriel Jesus - being played onside by Hunt - took delivery of Christian Norgaard's pass to find the back of the net.
That was the end of Hunt's afternoon, with former Arsenal junior Matt Smith taking over with 30 minutes gone, meaning Jensen Weir dropping into the back four.
And Latics immediately raised their game, with Joe Taylor and Raphael Borges Rodrigues forcing decent saves shots from Kepa before the interval.
That was almost it in terms of goalmouth action as Arsenal appeared content to consolidate their lead, while Latics dug in to keep the scoreline respectable.
The one clear-cut opportunity in the second half came in the closing stages, as Tickle pulled off a fine save to deny Martinelli header off a Martin Zubimendi cross.
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