Arsenal Stars Deliver Stunning Redemption After Arteta's Tactical Wake-Up Call Against Wigan

Just three days after being substituted at the break, Eberechi Eze was back in Arsenal's first team to lead a commanding 4–0 victory over Wigan Athletic in Sunday's FA Cup fourth round clash.

Important context must be acknowledged regarding this display; Wigan currently sits in League One's drop zone without a permanent manager. Co-interim boss Graham Barrow approached the visit to the Premier League table-toppers by confessing his squad is "struggling with confidence issues." Arsenal's flurry of four strikes within the first 27 minutes certainly didn't boost those fragile mindsets.

However, teams can only defeat the opposition they face, and Eze methodically dismantled Wigan by creating the opening two goals in this heavily lopsided encounter. With Martin Ødegaard's fitness remaining questionable, Arsenal's determined No. 10 may find himself needed for numerous matches against more challenging adversaries.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

One Thing We Can't Ignore

Throughout the scoreless opening half of Arsenal's 1–1 stalemate with Brentford on Thursday evening, Eze managed only nine successful passes, none resulting in goal attempts—which he also failed to register. The creative midfielder recorded equal numbers of penalty area touches and fouls committed (one each).

Ødegaard was quickly introduced from the substitutes' bench at halftime and, according to Arteta, provided the team with "additional pace." The Gunners hardly shifted from first gear as they cruised across a surface that appeared angled toward Wigan's net on Sunday, though it surely pleased Arteta to witness Eze taking control.

The ex-Crystal Palace talent created the crucial breakthrough after merely 10 minutes through brilliant skill. Dancing past Joe Taylor with the flair he frequently misses against top-tier opponents, Eze carved through the visitors with a surgical through pass so perfectly timed that Noni Madueke required no first touch or pace adjustment before firing Arsenal into the lead.

Eze was once more instrumental in setting up Gabriel Martinelli for the match's second strike, weaving through gaps in Wigan's defensive line to release his Brazilian colleague into the penalty area.

A sluggish beginning to his north London career was attributed to the disruption of his delayed transfer move. It represented a fresh club (within the same city) following five years at Crystal Palace. His inaugural Premier League strike for Arsenal coming against the Eagles felt destined, while a treble versus Tottenham Hotspur in November sent the excitement into overdrive.

Eze featured in Arsenal's impressive triumph over Bayern Munich and provided the decisive goal in a 3–1 success. Yet that marked the 27-year-old's final direct scoring involvement until his initial assist against Wigan on Sunday. This 15-match, 12-and-a-half-hour barren spell cannot be completely forgotten due to one victory against a team positioned 64 spots below Arsenal in the league structure. Nevertheless, it certainly helps.

Arsenal Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)

Arsenal Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings courtesy of FotMob*

GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga—7.4: Required to make one outstanding close-range stop in the opening period to deny Wigan any hint of encouragement.

RB: Ben White—7.1: Didn't quite connect with Madueke, who found greater success linking up with Bukayo Saka on the right flank.

CB: William Saliba—7.4: Withdrawn after enjoying a comfortable hour gliding through the match without exertion.

CB: Cristhian Mosquera—7.2: Moved across the wet surface with the eagerness of someone playing their maiden Champions League showpiece.

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly—7.0: Denied his inaugural senior appearance as a midfielder, Lewis-Skelly nevertheless spent considerable time in central areas.

CM: Christian Nørgaard—8.5: The sole defensive midfielder for the Gunners threw himself into challenges while providing an incisive source of aerial passes.

CM: Eberechi Eze—8.6: Critics will argue "it's merely Wigan." Following nearly three months without scoring or assisting, Eze will welcome his productive display against any opponent.

AM: Bukayo Saka—7.6: Quickly adapted to an unfamiliar central position, Saka appeared like a born No. 10.

RW: Noni Madueke—8.5: Quickly determined he could outplay Morgan Fox and proceeded to demonstrate this repeatedly during a comfortable cup match.

ST: Gabriel Jesus—8.0: Finished his goal excellently but struggled to create additional shooting chances as he focused on dropping deeper.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli—7.9: Like a predator playing with prey, Martinelli took his opening goal seriously before becoming more interested in humiliating his struggling opponents than increasing his goal count.

SUB: Viktor Gyökeres (46' for Saka)—6.0: Struck the post's base with a powerful effort that was characteristically wayward.

SUB: Marli Salmon (61' for Saliba)—6.0: Arsenal's imposing 16-year-old handled his limited responsibilities with adult-like composure.

SUB: Leandro Trossard (61' for Madueke)—6.6: Entered the field and immediately began criticizing teammates for various issues.

SUB: Martín Zubimendi (79' for White)—6.8

SUB: Tommy Setford (87' for Arrizabalaga)—N/A: Moments after entering, the young keeper demonstrated his worth by making an excellent aerial catch under significant pressure.

Unused substitutes: Piero Hincapié, Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice.

What the Ratings Tell Us

What the Ratings Tell Us

Arsenal are pursuing every trophy this campaign. pic.twitter.com/JVI15KVwGy

The Statistics That Define Arsenal's Cup Match

The Statistics That Define Arsenal's Cup Match