Arsenal 4-0 Wigan: First half flurry fires Gunners into 5th round

Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video

A flurry of first half objectives noticed Arsenal undergo the fifth spherical of the FA Cup after 4-0 win over Wigan yesterday.

The preliminary group line-up was fascinating, because it regarded as if Myles Lewis-Skelly was going to play in midfield, permitting Mikel Arteta to relaxation each Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. Nevertheless, an damage to Riccardo Calafiori within the warm-up put paid to that, which means Bukayo Saka was referred to as into the beginning XI and Myles went to left-back as an alternative.

“That was one other studying second and I at all times inform them, be prepared as a result of within the position that you’ve got you possibly can change any minute and Bukayo needed to be prepared and he was made conscious of that very, very, very late,” stated the supervisor.

I’ll say, if I had a alternative of placing a type of gamers into midfield as a approach of seeing what they may supply the group, I’d have gone for Saka. It’s one thing I’ve written about prior to now, his high quality and skill ought to permit him to do nicely in there, and I believe – health apart – he was fascinating in that position. With the accidents we at present have, it is perhaps one thing now we have to revisit, and I assumed he slotted in very properly.

Clearly, every little thing comes with the caveat of the opposition, a group languishing close to the underside of League One, however in addition to Saka did, he was outdone by Eberechi Eze. He’s been underneath the highlight of late, he hasn’t hit the heights individuals anticipated, however his efficiency yesterday was simply what he wanted. His move for Noni Madueke’s opener was glorious, recognizing the sensible run and threading it completely into the trail of the winger whose first time end was excellent.

Eze then turned supplier for Gabriel Martinelli, this time taking part in a move along with his left foot for the Brazilian, who ran past the defender and completed along with his left foot. Saka and Madueke mixed for the third aim, the cross from the captain deflecting off the underside of Gabriel Jesus’ foot, earlier than hitting a defender and moving into. The fourth got here from a superb Christian Norgaard move, discovering Jesus excessive and his dinked end made it 4-0 and we hadn’t even performed half an hour.

Wigan then needed to make an damage enforced change, bringing on FA Cup winner Matt Smith (previously of this parish), and shifting to a again 4. Additionally they stopped taking part in with the excessive line that we had uncovered so nicely in that opening interval of the sport, and after that every little thing simply settled down. Wigan had an opportunity which Kepa saved, and at half-time Viktor Gyokeres changed Saka in what I assume was a typical sense substitution.

Ben White did his finest to assist us add to the scoreline, with glorious passes for Gyokeres and Jesus. The previous hit the submit along with his first time shot, the latter compelled the keeper into an honest save. William Saliba got here off for 16 yr outdated Marli Salmon to get a run out at centre-half, earlier than White went off after happening late within the sport. His Instagram appeared to recommend there’s no damage to fret about, so fingers crossed there.

There was additionally the bizarre sight of a goalkeeping change, with Tommy Setford approaching for Kepa with only a few minutes to go. The 19 yr outdated made his second look for the membership, having performed in a 4th spherical EFL Cup win over Preston final season. His first involvement was to say a excessive free kick pumped into the field, and he clearly loved it too.

Eze had a few late pictures (he had 6 in complete yesterday in addition to the 2 assists), however this was a sport we had gained earlier than the half hour mark, and whereas it is perhaps very barely disappointing to not have scored extra, it actually doesn’t matter within the grand scheme of issues. We have now a really busy schedule with two away video games this week, and there was simply no must do something apart from play this one out. Be smart, take no dangers, we’d like all palms on deck for Wolves away then the North London derby.

Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:

Very proud of the outcomes and particularly the efficiency, the way in which we began the sport. You actually wish to present how a lot you need it once you play in opposition to this type of opposition within the cup, and we definitely had that angle, after which I used to be a bit stunned with the extent of cohesion and connections very early within the match, as a result of once you make that many modifications, that may be part of the sport – that may be missing. Nevertheless it definitely wasn’t, and we scored some very, excellent objectives. I’m very happy with that.

And on Eze’s contribution:

Sure, some very good balls and his intentions, I believe the danger that he took within the closing third, the quantity of pictures that he tried to take as nicely, I believe that’s actually constructive. That’s what we would like from him.

Once more, it’s a must to take the opposition into consideration, but when we’re searching for him to construct some confidence and rhythm, then this will’t be something apart from useful in that sense. He’s acquired to do it in opposition to more difficult opposition, however he made his mark on the sport, the three beginning forwards all acquired on the scoresheet, we saved a clear sheet, gamers like Norgaard and Mosquera slotted in completely and performed very nicely, and now we simply await the draw which takes place later this night.

Okay, I’ll depart it there this morning. Stand by for an Arsecast Additional, as at all times. We’ve already put out the decision for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com. So hearth away utilizing the hashtag #arsecastextra – or in case you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server. The pod ought to be out mid-morning.

For now, have an excellent one.