Arsenal are through to the FA Cup 5th round after a 4-0 win over Wigan at the Emirates this afternoon.
Mikel Arteta made a host of changes to the side, as expected, with starts for players like Ben White, Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze, and after picking up a knock in the warm-up, Riccardo Calafiori was replaced in the starting XI by Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal number 7 captained the side and slotted into a midfield role with Noni Madueke on the right of the front three. Eze had the Gunners first attempt but it was deflected behind for a corner, from which Lewis-Skelly fired a shot not too far over the bar.
In the 11th minute, Arsenal went ahead. Eze played a superb pass through the centre, finding Madueke’s run, and his first time finish was very good to make it 1-0.
It was Eze again who was provider for the Gunners’ second, playing a lovely pass through the inside left channel for Gabriel Martinelli, who took it on and finished well with his left foot. 2-0.
The lead was extended just a few minutes later, Madueke and Saka combined, the captain’s cross deflected off the bottom of Jesus’ foot and hit the head of a defender and into the back of the net. 3-0.
Martinelli was sent through again as Wigan continued to play a high line, but the keeper blocked his effort. It wasn’t long before we scored again however. Norgaard played a lovely pass over the top, Jesus beat the offside trap, and dinked the ball over the oncoming keeper. 4-0 in the 27th minute.
There was a chance for Wigan after their player wiggled in behind, but Kepa produced a decent save from a close range effort to deny whoever it was. A good Madueke cross provided a chance for Mosquera, but Wigan defended well, Saka had a shot blocked from inside their box, and Kepa made another save from a shot drilled in from outside the area.
There were half chances as Arteta’s men took their foot off the gas a little, but still took the 4-0 lead into the break. There was a half-time change, with Viktor Gyokeres replacing Saka.
Jesus saw a shot saved but the offside flag went up, and Gyokeres’ shot from a tight angle cannoned back off the post after he’d been found in the box by Ben White. Eze took a free kick which hit his own man, before shooting into the side netting after driving into the box.
Arteta made a double change on the hour mark with Marli Salmon and Leandro Trossard replacing Saliba and Madueke, while Wigan took some lad off and put some other lad on.
Another good White pass saw Jesus get a shot on target but the keeper made a solid save, a dangerous Trossard cross was cleared from inside their 6 yard box, before Lewis-Skelly was booked for a cynical foul on halfway to prevent a Wigan break.
Another Trossard cross almost found the head of Jesus, Eze’s pass to Martinelli was cut out at the vital moment, and Wigan made another couple of subs, bringing on two lads for two other lads.
There was another injury worry for Arsenal after Ben White went down in the 78th minute, replaced by Martin Zubimendi. Norgaard picked up a yellow card, Gyokeres was fouled and some Wigan fella got booked, and a Zubimendi cross saw Martinelli get a good header on target but the keeper made a save.
There was the unusual sight of a goalkeeping sub in the final stages as Tommy Setford came on to replace Kepa, and his first involvement was to come and claim a high free kick. Eze forced the keeper into a good save from a Trossard pass, and had another shot blocked, and the 2 minutes of injury time played out without incident.
In the end, a relatively drama free afternoon and passage into the next round – just what the doctor ordered.