Arsenal Crush Wigan 4-0 as Premier League Teams Reach FA Cup Fifth Round

FA Cup 2025/26: Arsenal Rout Wigan 4-0 as Premier League Sides Advance to Fifth Round.

                    On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Arsenal delivered a ruthless display at the Emirates Stadium, thrashing League One strugglers Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup fourth round.

            The Premier League leaders scored all four goals in a blistering 17-minute first-half spell, cruising into the fifth round for the first time since their last triumph in 2020. This dominant performance came amid a weekend where five Premier League teams—Arsenal, Fulham, Leeds United, Sunderland, and Wolverhampton Wanderers—avoided giant-killings to progress, restoring some order after earlier shocks like Mansfield's upset of Burnley and Macclesfield's historic win over Crystal Palace.

The Emirates crowd of around 60,000 witnessed a one-sided affair from the outset. Arsenal, chasing a record-extending 15th FA Cup and still alive in four competitions, showed no mercy against a Wigan side battling in the lower reaches of League One under manager Shaun Maloney. The Gunners' high-pressing, fluid attacking play overwhelmed their visitors, with new signing Eberechi Eze pulling the strings in midfield, setting up two goals in a masterclass performance.

Arsenal's Devastating First-Half Blitz

The game exploded into life early. In the 11th minute, Noni Madueke opened the scoring with a clinical finish after Eze's incisive pass carved open Wigan's defense. Madueke, showing his pace and composure, slotted home from close range to set the tone.

Just seven minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead. Eze was again involved, threading a perfect through ball that Martinelli latched onto before firing past Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle. The Brazilian's finish was composed, highlighting Arsenal's clinical edge in transition.

The third goal arrived in the 23rd minute via an own goal from Wigan defender Jack Hunt. Bukayo Saka whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, and Hunt, under pressure from Gabriel Jesus, could only divert the ball into his own net while attempting to clear.

Arsenal weren't done. In the 27th minute, Gabriel Jesus sealed the rout with a composed finish. Eze's vision once more created the chance, finding Jesus in space, and the Brazilian striker coolly placed his shot beyond Tickle. Four goals in 17 minutes—a record for a Premier League side in the opening half-hour of an FA Cup tie—left Wigan shell-shocked.

The second half was a formality. Mikel Arteta's side controlled possession, rotated players, and managed the game without conceding. Wigan, to their credit, stemmed the flow and avoided further damage, but the tie was long decided. Arsenal became the first team to score four in the first 30 minutes of an FA Cup match in the modern era, underlining their dominance.

Key Performers for ArsenalEberechi Eze: The summer signing was the architect, assisting Madueke and Martinelli with pinpoint passes. His creativity and composure in midfield evoked memories of his Crystal Palace days, earning praise as a "masterclass" display.

Noni Madueke: Opened the scoring and threatened constantly with his direct running.

Gabriel Martinelli & Gabriel Jesus: Both clinical finishers, capitalizing on Eze's service.

Bukayo Saka: Provided the assist for the own goal and was a constant menace.

Arsenal's performance kept their quadruple dreams alive, with Arteta's men top of the Premier League and progressing in domestic cups and Europe.

Other Fourth-Round Results: Premier League Sides March On

While Arsenal's win was expected, other matches featured more drama as Premier League teams navigated potential banana skins.

Fulham 2-1 Stoke City (at bet365 Stadium): Fulham rallied from behind. South Korean midfielder Bae Jun-ho gave second-tier Stoke an early lead, but Brazilian winger Kevin equalized early in the second half. The winner came late when Harrison Reed intercepted a misplaced pass from Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin and slotted home.

Sunderland 1-0 Oxford United: A straightforward win for the Black Cats. Midfielder Habib Diarra converted a penalty to secure passage against a struggling second-tier side.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Grimsby Town (at rain-soaked Blundell Park): Midfielder Santiago Bueno's goal proved decisive on a soggy pitch, giving Wolves a narrow but deserved victory over fourth-tier opposition.

Leeds United 1-1 Birmingham City (4-2 on penalties): The most dramatic tie. German forward Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead early in the second half, assisted by Noah Okafor. Patrick Roberts equalized dramatically in the 89th minute with a powerful strike. In extra time, neither side scored, leading to penalties. Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri saved from Tommy Doyle, Roberts blazed over for Birmingham, and Sean Longstaff sealed a 4-2 shootout win for Daniel Farke's side.

These results ensured no further upsets on Sunday, contrasting with Saturday's shock as third-tier Mansfield knocked out Premier League Burnley, increasing pressure on manager Scott Parker. Non-league Macclesfield's third-round giant-killing of holders Crystal Palace remains the competition's biggest story, with their fourth-round tie against Brentford set for Monday.

Historical Context and Significance

Arsenal's last FA Cup win came in 2020, their 14th overall—a record. Wigan's sole triumph was in 2013, a famous 1-0 final win over Manchester City that led to their Premier League relegation in the same season. This 4-0 defeat marks another chapter in Wigan's post-glory struggles.

The FA Cup remains English football's premier knockout competition, offering magic and upsets. This fourth-round weekend saw a mix: early shocks followed by Premier League resilience. Arsenal's performance reinforces their status as favorites for silverware.

Looking Ahead: Fifth-Round Draw and Arsenal's Path

The fifth-round draw took place on Monday, February 16, 2026, live on TNT Sports ahead of Brentford vs Macclesfield. Arsenal were placed in the hat alongside other qualifiers like Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham, Fulham, Sunderland, Southampton, Wrexham, Norwich City, Mansfield Town, and more. Ties are scheduled for the weekend of March 7-8, 2026.

Arsenal's progression keeps Mikel Arteta's quadruple chase on track. They face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on February 18, before turning attention to cup commitments.

Fan reactions flooded social media, with praise for Eze's influence and the team's ruthlessness. Highlights videos of the four-goal blitz went viral, capturing the Emirates atmosphere and Arsenal's attacking flair.

This round highlighted the FA Cup's enduring appeal: glamour ties for big clubs, hard-fought battles for others, and the constant threat of upsets—though Sunday proved a day for the favorites.