The Gunners saw two more players injured.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta conceded he is concerned about his squad being stretched after their 4-0 FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic was somewhat marred by injuries.
The Gunners produced an unsurprisingly dominant performance against the League One strugglers to move into the fifth round as the Premier League leaders continue to compete on four fronts.
Despite losing Riccardo Calafiori to an injury in the warm-up, Arsenal became the first Premier League side to score four goals in the first 30 minutes of an FA Cup tie as they put the Latics to the sword to keep their hopes of a quadruple alive.
Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead seven minutes later. Jack Hunt’s own goal put any hint of a comeback to bed, and it was 4-0 in the 27th minute after Gabriel Jesus’ composed finish.
Yet there was more injury concern when Calafiori’s fellow defender Ben White was forced off late on.
Arsenal were without captain Martin Odegaard due to a knock he sustained in the 1-1 draw with Brentford on Thursday. Kai Havertz is facing another spell on the sidelines with a muscle injury, while Mikel Merino is out for the season following foot surgery.
And, with Arsenal facing Wolves and Tottenham in the Premier League this week, Arteta expressed concern about how his squad is being tested by injuries.
Asked if he is concerned about the shortness of his squad, Arteta replied: “Yes. Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders, now it’s the midfielders. But we are still coping with that, but we need some players back and fit to give us not only numbers but different options in relation to the opponents that we have, so the quicker the better.”
Backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also came off late, but there appears to be no concern around the Spaniard.
On the injuries his side sustained against Wigan, Arteta replied: “Him [Calafiori] and Ben are the only doubts. We have to wait and see in the next 48 hours how things develop.
“Martin we’ll have to wait and see. He picked that knock on the action when we conceded the goal [at Brentford] and he wasn’t fit for today.”
Arsenal boss heaps praise on Eze
Perhaps the main positive for Arsenal from a professional display was Eberechi Eze’s showing.
Eze, who has endured a difficult start to 2026, ended a 15-game run without a goal involvement as he provided the assists for Arsenal’s first two goals. He played a superb throughball for Madueke’s opener, and another brilliantly judged pass teed up Martinelli.
The former Crystal Palace man hit the side-netting in the second half and forced Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle into a strong save in the second half.
Arteta said of Eze:”Some superb goals and his intentions, I think the risk that he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well, I think that’s really positive. That’s what I want from him.
“Those players need those moments and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments and I’m very happy with that.
“I’m very happy with Gabi as well, the run that he made, the timing of that and then the finish in action, really, really positive. So it’s good for the mood, for the confidence, it’s a really good thing.”
Asked if Eze could have a bigger role to play with the injury to Odegaard, Arteta replied: “Yes, he’s already playing a big role. He’s played a lot of games for us and he will continue to do that.”
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