FA Cup
4:30 p.mFebruary 15, 2026
Round of 32
Emirates Stadium
Referee: Tim Robinson, England
arsenal
Wigan
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
0.00
Expected Goals (xG)
0.00
Passing by
556 (90%)
Accurate passes
151 (71%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
1
G
Sam Tickle
6.3
d
Will Aimson
83′
15
d
Jason Kerr (C)
5.9
3
M
Morgan Fox
6.5
6
M
Jensen Weir
6.6
M
Owen Moxon
73′
21
M
Rafael Rodrigues
7.6
8
F
Callum Wright
6.3
7
F
Fraser Murray
6.3
10
F
Joe Taylor
6.2
No ranking data available for this league
Arsenal produced a dominant performance at the Emirates, dispatching Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup to comfortably secure their progression.
Arsenal put in a powerful FA Cup display, comfortably overcoming Wigan Athletic with an emphatic 4-0 win at the Emirates Stadium. A flurry of goals in the first half for Mikel Arteta’s side has ensured a direct path to the next round. Noni Madueke set the tone early with a superb strike.
Heading into the match on February 15, 2026, perennial Premier League contenders Arsenal faced a Wigan side likely struggling in the lower divisions. The cup tie featured a classic David vs. Goliath showdown. Wigan were hoping for a memorable upset, while Arsenal were aiming for a professional performance and progression.
The Gunners wasted little time asserting their authority. In the 11th minute, Eberechi Eze put in a precise pass to Noni Madueke, who hit the ball with experience. This first goal immediately put Arsenal in control, calming any pre-match nerves.
Arsenal doubled their lead just seven minutes later. Eze provided the assist again, setting up Gabriel Martinelli to fire past the Wigan keeper in the 18th minute. The pressure became overwhelming and in the 23rd minute, Wigan defender J. Hunt unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, making it three.
The relentless attack continued for Arsenal. Christian Nørgaard, orchestrating the play from midfield, made a key pass. Gabriel Jesús then seized the opportunity and scored his goal in the 27th minute. This quick burst of four goals effectively ended the game before the half hour mark. Wigan made an early substitution, replacing Hunt with M. Smith in the 30th minute.
With a 4-0 lead, Arsenal went into the break knowing their work was largely done. Wigan, reeling from the onslaught of the first half, faced an almost impossible task. The second part was about damage limitation for the visitors.
The second half saw Arsenal stay in control, slowing the tempo slightly as they continued to dictate play. Coach Arteta took the opportunity to rotate his squad. Bukayo Saka replaced V. Gyokeres at half-time, followed by William Saliba for M. Salmon in the 61st minute, and goalscorer Madueke made way for Leandro Trossard in the 62nd minute.
Wigan brought in fresh legs in an attempt to stem the tide. J. Taylor replaced D. Costelloe in the 63rd minute. As the half wore on, the game became more messy, with M. Lewis-Skelly picking up a yellow card for Arsenal in the 69th minute. Wigan’s O. Moxon was also booked four minutes later.
Despite not scoring any more goals, Arsenal continued to dominate possession. Christian Nørgaard saw yellow in the 82nd minute, followed by Wigan’s W. Aimson in the 83rd. Ben White and Kepa Arrizabalaga also came on for Arsenal in the closing stages. Goalkeeper Arrizabalaga had made two important saves earlier to preserve the Arsenal goal.
The statistics highlighted Arsenal’s total superiority. They had 74% possession, making 616 passes compared to Wigan’s 212. Arsenal registered 13 shots in total, with 5 on target, while Wigan only managed 2 shots, both on target. Nørgaard was a standout player with an 8.3 rating and one assist. Eze’s two assists also showed his creative influence.
This comprehensive 4-0 win sends Arsenal smoothly into the next round of the FA Cup. It was a professional and clinical performance that underlined his cup credentials. For Wigan, it was a tough day at the office against top-flight opposition, offering lessons for their league campaign.
