Arsenal Blitz Wigan to Reach FA Cup Last 16 as Leeds, Wolves, Fulham, and Sunderland Advance

Arsenal cruised into the FA Cup last 16 with a commanding 4-0 victory over struggling Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium, scoring all four goals in the opening 27 minutes.

Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring before Jack Hunt’s own goal was followed by a composed finish from Gabriel Jesus. The result marks Arsenal’s return to the FA Cup last 16 for the first time since their 2020 triumph, which remains manager Mikel Arteta’s only major trophy with the club.

Holding a four-point lead atop the Premier League, while also competing in the League Cup final against Manchester City and the Champions League last 16, Arsenal could still challenge for a remarkable quadruple this season.

“We made a lot of changes because of players who needed minutes. The intensity that we showed, the connections between players and the threat we had, I’m very pleased. The first half made a difference, obviously,” Arteta said.

Wigan, struggling at the bottom of League One under interim boss Glenn Whelan, offered little resistance. Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori’s pre-match injury forced Arteta to reinstate Bukayo Saka in the line-up.

The scoring began in the 11th minute when Eberechi Eze created space for Madueke to slot home. Seven minutes later, Eze assisted Martinelli for a precise finish. Hunt’s own goal followed in the 23rd minute from a Saka cross, and Jesus completed the rout in the 27th minute with a delicate chip over Wigan keeper Sam Tickle.

Arsenal will now turn their attention back to the Premier League with a trip to bottom-side Wolves on Wednesday.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup fourth round:

• Leeds United survived a penalty shoot-out against second-tier Birmingham City after Patrick Roberts’ 89th-minute equaliser cancelled out Lukas Nmecha’s opener. Leeds won the shoot-out 4-2, keeping alive hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003.
• Wolverhampton Wanderers avoided an upset at fourth-division Grimsby Town, with Santiago Bueno scoring the only goal in the 60th minute. It was Wolves’ first away win since April.
• Fulham came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Stoke City, while Sunderland claimed a 1-0 win over Oxford United.

The FA Cup continues to deliver drama, with both Premier League giants and lower-division teams making headlines in the fourth round.