ARSENAL cruised into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup with a 30-minute blitz to beat League One side Wigan 4-0.
The Gunners became the first Premier League team in history to score four or more goals in the opening 30 minutes of an game.
Arsenal cruised into the fifth round the FA Cup with a 4-0 win over WiganCredit: AFP
, and all scored before half an hour was played as Arsenal also benefited from yet another own goal.
Wigan were unable to cope with Arsenal’s strength in depth and were punished by the professionalism of the Gunners’ heavily rotated side.
Here SunSport Arsenal reporter Joshua Hall rated each indivdual Arsenal performance…
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA – 7
A few good saves when Wigan did manage to threaten, including a super stop from close range to deny Wigan striker Joe Taylor.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 5
It looked like we were finally going to get a glimpse of in midfield when the lineups were announced, but that didn’t take shape.
An injury to in the warm-up meant that Lewis-Skelly was pushed back to his usual position of left-back.
The 19-year-old will see this as a missed opportunity to stake a claim for a starting spot after he failed to impress beyond a pretty average performance.
Also picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Dara Costelloe.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was unable to stake a claim for a starting spot with his performance against Wigan
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Not much defending for the towering Frenchman to do. Arsenal fans will just be pleased that he got through without picking up a knock before the Premier League action resumes against Wolves in midweek.
CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA – 7
Got away with a few silly kicks and bumps on Wigan players, but was otherwise pretty solid.
The 21-year-old became the senior centre-back when 16-year-old Hale End product Marli Salmon came on in the second half.
BEN WHITE – 7
His overlapping runs can so often cause chaos down the right flank, that was even more evident when Wigan were having to deal with him, Saka and Madueke all at the same time.
White hasn’t had the minutes he would usually expect this season, but looks solid whenever he does come in.
CHRISTIAN NORGAARD – 8
The lesser-seen midfielder ran the show at times with some really tidy long balls from deep.
His pitching wedge chip to find Gabriel Jesus for Arsenal’s fourth was simply delightful and a reminder that he is a top player when does get his chance.
An absolute professional, Norgaard should be given his flowers for the way he has handled himself in this bit-part role this season.
Christian Norgaard ran the show for Arsenal
EBERE EZE – 8
Eze has been hammered for a lack of involvement this season and that came to a head when he was hooked off at half-time against in midweek.
Today he showed that he still has those “magic moments” has waxed lyrical about.
The £68m man played a sensational pass to set up Noni Madueke for Arsenal’s opener. Eze shook off Joe Taylor with ease inside his own half before splitting the Wigan team with one pass to find Madueke.
While his brilliant through-ball to send Gabriel Martinelli through for Arsenal’s second was another showing of his talent.
Ebere Eze showed that he can still produce moments of magic with some brilliant passingCredit: Getty
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
A last second call-up to the starting XI and playing in an unusual central position after Calafiori’s warm-up injury.
Always causing trouble whether it was from central areas or drifting back out wide.
Arteta will be pleased he is back in the fold before a week with two huge Premier League fixtures. Taken off at half-time for .
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Another goal for the Brazilian outside of the Premier League.
Martinelli has now scored 11 goals this season and just one of them has come in the league.
will be hoping he can replicate some of that form in the league.
GABRIEL JESUS – 7
Such a brilliant finisher when the ball falls to him in dangerous areas and took his chance with a clever chip to score Arsenal’s fourth.
His role swapped from goalscorer to creator when Viktor Gyokeres joined him up top for the second half.
The Brazilian was tasked with doing the link-up play, while Gyokeres became the man running in behind.
Unfortunately that didn’t bear any fruit, b
Gabriel Jesus produced a delightful chip to beat Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle
NONI MADUEKE – 7
Great tucked finish to get the opening goal and was forever making darting runs in behind the Wigan defence.
After scoring against Brentford in midweek, it seems he is finally starting to add some end product to his game after a frustrating start to life in North London.
Noni Madueke scored Arsenal’s opener
SUBSTITUTES –
VIKTOR GYOKERES (for Saka, 45min) – 6
This was the first time that Gyokeres has shared the pitch with Gabriel Jesus, and the Swede got to enjoy solely focusing on trying to score goals – instead of having to link up play which he normally struggles with.
Even with Jesus doing the dirty work, Gyokeres was unable to add another goal to his tally for the season.
He did clatter the post just a few minutes after coming on.
MARLI SALMON (for Saliba, 61min) – 7
The 16-year-old got his home debut for Arsenal, having made away cameos against and Club Brugge.
Depsite his age, Salmon looked calm as anything and didn’t put a foot wrong in his short cameo.
Hale End teenager Marli Salmon made his home debut for the Arsenal first team
LEANDRO TROSSARD (for Madueke, 61min) – 6
Always wreaks havoc down that left flank when he is on the pitch and caused plenty of problems in this 30-minute cameo, too.
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI (for White, 79min) – N/A
TOMMY SETFORD (for Kepa, 86min) – N/A
A bizzarre substitution from Arteta, who brought the academy goalkeeper on for his home senior debut despite Kepa being fit.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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