Bearing in mind Man City had struggled to a 2-0 win over Salford the day before, relying on an early own goal and an 82nd minute winner it was a calming thought that Wigan Athletic, at home, had for us all the ingredients of a stress free afternoon, and it didn’t disappoint.
With two away games later this week coming, Arteta needed to utilise his resources to the maximum and so he made 8 changes from his G-Tech starting XI. In came Kepa, White, Saliba, Calafiori, Norgaard, Myles, Jesus and Martinelli. The bench was slightly better stocked than I’d expected or hoped for as I was thinking that two or three academy lads might make the bench but only Marli Salmon got the nod. That was until Calafiori picked up a problem meaning Myles, who had been set to play in midfield, reverted to his left-back spot with Bakayo coming into the starting XI. 17 year old Northern Ireland wing-forward Ceadach O’Neill was added to the squad.
Wigan lined up with a back-five and four in midfield but in those early minutes Saka playing inside right, Madueke, Martinelli and Jesus just tormented them as they created space and used their movement to disorientate the League One side. On 8 minutes Myles pushed forward and chanced his arm with a long-range drive that just sailed over the bar.
Eze was gliding around and linking play whilst looking like the player we all wanted him to be when he joined last August and it was from one of his lazier guided passes that we opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Ebs knocked a beauty into some space and Madueke just opened the throttle, leaving his marker in his slipstream as he gracefully slid the ball passed the stranded Wigan goalkeeper.
It looked oh so easy even though we know it’s not, but this team is so good. On 19 minutes, Norgaard, who was playing a kind of a sweeper role, found Eze who again used his special laser passing ability to find Martinelli with a perfectly weighted pass and Gabby just accelerated away from his markers and buried the ball inside the far post. A comprehensive move and a comprehensive finish, just the ticket.
Wigan were struggling and Arsenal looked likely to score a hatful when 4 minutes later the Gunners pretty much finished the job. Madueke skipped down the right flank drawing defenders to him then switched the ball to Saka who took it to the byline before cutting it back where Jesus got a slight touch and the ball pinballed off of a Wigan defender and via the goalkeeper into the net. Owngoalinho strikes again!
On 25 minutes Norgaard sent in a delicious long pass to Martinelli whose shot was blocked by the Wigan goalkeeper. Jesus picked up the rebound but he was crowded out. Then two minutes later Saliba slipped a short pass to Norgaard who just looked up and surveyed the spaces in front of him before hitting an inviting long pass to Jesus. The Brazilian controlled the pass perfectly before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and that was that pretty much and all before the half hour mark.
Wigan then abandoned their back-five and went to a four moving an extra body into midfield in order to stifle the service from there and I guess it worked. Arsenal didn’t score for the remaining hour but we didn’t really need to as the tie was won, even so there were quite a few more scrambles around the Wigan goal and a couple of chances for them.
On 35 Kepa made a smart save when Wigan striker Joe Taylor got through on goal but that was as good as it got for Athletic. Mosquera, who played the left side to Saliba on the right got up well to a cross and but for an outstretched head would have scored our 5th.
Half-Time 4-0.
Gyokeres replaced Saka at the break but only because Bakayo was only ever going to play 45 and the siege continued.
Ben White knocked a lovely pass in for Viktor and his shot looked goal bound, only a slight touch from a Wigan defender deflected it onto the near post. On 60 Martinelli set up Eze who just drifted serenely into the box but put his shot wide. Around this time Arteta took off Saliba and gave Marli Salmon a good half an hour along Mosquera, making them possibly one of the youngest centre-back pairings in the clubs history. Trossard also came on for the impressive Madueke and it was Leo who tricked his way into space and drove a low cross into the box on 68 minutes, whereby a Wigan defender somehow cleared it over the bar. On 79 minutes Ben White went off with a knock, fingers crossed, to be replaced by Zubimendi and from a Leo pass it was Zubi whose cross was met powerfully by Martinelli, unfortunately straight at the goalkeeper who saved. Shame about that one.
Eze had a couple of late flings at scoring but he must have left his shooting boots at home and Tommy Setford came on for Kepa on 87 and made a fine claim under pressure when a high cross was driven into the box. Tommy doesn’t look like someone who you can push around and that’s great news.
I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t see O’Neill and possibly if Ben White hadn’t needed to go off then maybe we would have done so but that’s football. But plenty of our squad players had good outings which should give them all a lift for the weeks ahead.
So a good boost for the squad for next Wednesday with hopefully a home draw in the 5th round incoming – and of course……
We march on.
By Kev.
Morning Kev, all.
Good read Kev, thanks.
Norgaard was excellent imo. Nice to see Eze floating around like he owned the pitch too. Three cracking Arsenal goals.
Yes, it was Wigan but Arsenal could only face who was in front of them. Good job well done and now it’s about Wolves. I think the draw is tonight so fingers crossed for another home game.
Morning. Great match with a great score yesterday. Good to see that each player was putting in a solid effort, with very few hiccups. Hopefully we will see more of this type of play.
White issues positive injury update on social media
Arsenal defender Ben White has taken to social media to reveal he is not injured after their FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic.
The right-back came off during the second half after picking up a knock and was replaced by Martin Zubimendi.
Mikel Arteta said White was a doubt for Wednesday’s game against Wolves, live on Sky Sports, which can see the Gunners go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
But White then posted on social media on Sunday evening: “Next round. No injuries.”
There is concern, however, for Riccardo Calafiori – who limped out of the warm-up against Wigan – while Martin Odegaard missed the cup tie after a knock against Brentford last week.
Absolutely Laura.
Good morning all.
Cheers Kev a very fair write up.
Eze’s fine when he’s given time and space, however when Wigan strengthened their midfield in the second half, we saw the other side of his game.
Some chaotic refereeing in various games yesterday, no Var means refs have lost their comfort blanket and have to make instant decisions, a thing some find very difficult.
That’s where our speed of play becomes essential imo. The quicker we go back to front, the more space we’ll have, however, we faff around too much which plays into opponents hands.
The Villa Newcastle game was full of controversy so I read.
Morning Gooners, morning Rico/Cicero, cheers.
Yeah, you could see the difference when the defenders are not quite as good as those we see in the Premier League on a regular basis, I also think we eased off of the intensity as well after the 4th goal there was no need to go full gas or risk injuries. With so much football ahead it’s about managing your resources and making sure there’s something left in the legs for April and May.
Good point about the faffing about Rico, it was noticeable that both Norgaard and Eze got the ball forward quickly and Saka made a difference at inside-right. It was good seeing Ben White overlap and stretch defenders unlike Timber who always comes inside into the congestion.
Agree Kev, no point in wasting energy when the result was in the bag.
Raya frustrates me Kev, our defenders too because they are the ones who faff around. Did imagine it or did Kepa opt for quicker distribution?