- February 16, 2026
Gunning For Glory On All Fronts! Arsenal Secure FA Cup Progress With Rout Of Wigan!
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Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus found the back of the net, in addition to a Jack Hunt own goal, as Mikel Arteta and Co. romped to a 4-0 win.
Arsenal’s Noni Madueke controls the ball during the English FA Cup soccer match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic in London, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Arsenal advanced to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years, decisively defeating Wigan 4-0 on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s team overwhelmed the third-tier side with four goals in the first 27 minutes at the Emirates Stadium. Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli scored, followed by an own goal from Jack Hunt and a strike by Gabriel Jesus.
The Gunners are into the last 16 for the first time since their FA Cup victory in 2020, the only major trophy won under Arteta’s leadership. Arsenal currently lead the Premier League by four points, are set to face Manchester City in the League Cup final, and have reached the Champions League last 16. They are in contention for an extraordinary quadruple this season.
“We made many changes to give players needed minutes. I am very pleased with the intensity, player connections, and threat we showed. The first half made a significant difference,” Arteta commented.
The recent match lacked the drama of Arsenal’s semi-final win over Wigan in 2014, which included a penalty shoot-out goal from then-captain Arteta. Wigan, now struggling in the League One relegation zone, were managed by interim boss Glenn Whelan following Ryan Lowe’s recent sacking.
Arsenal’s defender Riccardo Calafiori was injured during the pre-match warm-up, leading Arteta to start Bukayo Saka instead of resting him. Despite the last-minute change, Arsenal took the lead within 11 minutes. Arteta started Eberechi Eze, who redeemed himself after a disappointing performance in Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford. Eze set up Madueke for the opening goal with a clever pass. Eze provided another assist in the 18th minute, setting up Martinelli for a cool finish.
In the 23rd minute, Wigan’s Hunt scored an own goal, heading Saka’s cross into his net. Four minutes later, Christian Norgaard’s pass allowed Jesus to chip the ball over Wigan keeper Sam Tickle, making it 4-0.
Arsenal will continue their Premier League campaign against bottom-placed Wolves on Wednesday. Leeds survived a penalty shoot-out to narrowly defeat Birmingham at St Andrew’s. Substitute Patrick Roberts scored an 89th-minute equaliser to cancel out Lukas Nmecha’s opener for Leeds. After extra-time ended 1-1, Leeds won the shoot-out 4-2, with Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, and Sean Longstaff converting their penalties. Leeds, fighting relegation in the Premier League, are one win away from their first quarter-finals appearance since 2003.
Wolves avoided an upset by winning 1-0 at fourth-division Grimsby, who had shocked Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season. Santiago Bueno scored the only goal in the 60th minute from Wolves’ first shot on target. It was Wolves’ first away win since April. Fulham came from behind to win 2-1 at Stoke, while Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory at Oxford.
February 16, 2026, 08:40 IST
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