Cup football under the lights at the Emirates is always a special occasion. We welcomed League One side Wigan Athletic with the intent of getting the job done early, and the boys absolutely delivered.
A First-Half Blitz
We were out of the blocks with devastating speed. Noni Madueke continued his red-hot form, opening the scoring inside the first few minutes. Before Wigan could even catch their breath, Gabriel Martinelli made it two.
The pressure was relentless, and an unfortunate own goal by Wigan's Jack Hunt made it three. To cap off an incredible opening 30 minutes, Gabriel Jesus added the fourth, effectively ending the contest before half-time.
Professional Management
The second half was an exercise in game management. Kepa Arrizabalaga was alert when called upon to ensure the clean sheet. Mikel Arteta utilized the luxury of a 4-0 lead to rotate the squad, bringing on Viktor Gyökeres, Leandro Trossard, and giving a run-out to youngster Marli Salmon.
"To start the game with that level of intensity and respect for the opponent was exactly what we asked for," said the Boss.
A professional job well done, and we march on to the next round of the FA Cup!
Man of the Match: Gabriel Martinelli 🇧🇷
Electric from the start, grabbing a goal and terrifying the Wigan defense.
Image Credits https://www.arsenal.com/