Arsenal 4-0 Wigan Athletic Player Ratings: Gunners Put Four Past Wigan to Seal Qualification Into the Next Round of the FA Cup

This FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium was, to put it mildly, a complete mismatch. Arsenal dismantled a poorly-structured Wigan Athletic with a ruthless first-half performance that ended the contest before it ever really began.

The game was over and done with inside 30 minutes. A blizzard of goals from Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus, supplemented by a truly unfortunate own goal from Wigan's Jack Hunt, saw the Gunners race to a 4-0 lead.

The second half felt more like a training exercise, with Arsenal content to just pass the ball around and see out the game. Wigan, to their credit, never completely gave up, but they were simply outclassed in every department.

The gulf in quality was just immense. Arsenal cruised into the next round without breaking a sweat, and for Wigan, it's a harsh lesson, but one they'll have to take on the chin and move on from. It was really a day to forget for the visitors.

Here are the Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Arsenal had the most possession (77%) and also overperformed their xG of 2.37.
• Eberechi Eze was the star of the match, even though he lost the most duels in this FA Cup tie (6).
• Fraser Murray had the least touches in this game (27) among any of the outfield players who played the whole 90 minutes.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Wigan Athletic

Have a look at the Arsenal Player Ratings from the Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 7.0: We noticed he barely had anything to do. He made the saves that were required of him with no fuss at all. His distribution was crisp and clean, starting attacks from the back. It was probably one of the easiest clean sheets he will ever earn in his career. A quiet, comfortable afternoon for the Spanish keeper.

Defenders

William Saliba - 7.0: A Rolls-Royce of a performance, as we've come to expect. He was never troubled by the Wigan attack. He just strolled through the game, passing the ball with his usual precision. Arteta rightly took him off after an hour to give him a rest. An effortless display.

Cristhian Mosquera - 7.0: Looked very composed alongside Saliba. He read the game well, making a couple of important interceptions and clearances when needed. What stood out to us was his comfort on the ball; he never looked panicked. A really solid and promising performance in a game that didn't ask too many questions of him.

Ben White - 6.5: A typical Ben White performance. He was defensively sound and supported the attack well down the right flank. He put in the work without any drama. It was a shame to see him go off with what looked like a knock. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious as he's a key part of this team.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6.0: Showed some good energy but his rash challenge for the yellow card was a bit naive. He looked a little over-eager at times, which is understandable for a young player. From our perspective, he needs to add a bit more composure to his game but the raw talent is there. An okay outing but the booking tarnished it slightly.

Midfielders

Bukayo Saka - 7.0: Only played 45 minutes but was his usual lively self. He was a constant threat on the right wing, drawing fouls and creating problems for the Wigan defence. It was a good run-out for him, getting some minutes in the legs without overexerting himself. Looked sharp.

Eberechi Eze - 8.5: Without a doubt, the man of the match. He was absolutely sensational. Two assists, created two big chances, he just glided across the pitch. His creativity and vision were on a completely different level to anyone else. What stood out to us was how he made everything look so easy. The highest-rated player for a reason, a joy to watch.

Christian Nørgaard - 8.0: The heartbeat of the team. He had over 100 touches, which tells you everything about his control of the midfield. He broke up play, dictated the tempo, and even chipped in with a lovely assist for the fourth goal. An immense, all-action performance from the Dane. He was everywhere.

Noni Madueke - 8.0: We were so impressed with his directness and confidence. He took his goal brilliantly to open the floodgates. Beyond the goal, he created four chances for his teammates and was a nightmare for the defenders to handle with his dribbling. A fantastic display of his attacking talent before he was subbed off.

Forwards

Gabriel Jesus - 7.5: Led the line with intelligence and relentless energy. He got the goal his hard work deserved with an emphatic finish into the top corner. He was a constant pest for the Wigan backline, although his timing was slightly off with a couple of offside calls. A very good striker's performance.

Gabriel Martinelli - 7.5: Scored a well-taken goal and was a livewire on the left flank. His pace and movement were too much for Wigan to handle. He combines so well with the other attackers. It was a sharp and incisive performance from the Brazilian winger. He always looks like he can make something happen.

Manager

M. Arteta - 8.0: You can't ask for much more. He picked a strong team that got the job done with ruthless efficiency in the first half. He was able to rest key players in the second half. The game plan was executed to perfection, and it resulted in a stress-free cup tie. A perfect day at the office for the boss.

Wigan Athletic Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Have a look at the Wigan Athletic Player Ratings from the Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Sam Tickle - 5.0: A truly thankless task for the young keeper. He was left completely exposed by his defence for all four goals. There wasn't much he could do about the clinical finishes. However, his distribution was nervy and often put his team under more pressure. A baptism of fire against elite opposition.

Defenders

Will Aimson - 5.5: He was busy, let's give him that. He made a number of clearances but was ultimately part of a defensive unit that was torn to shreds. The movement and speed of the Arsenal forwards was just too much for him to handle. He battled hard but was fighting a losing battle from the first whistle.

Jason Kerr - 5.5: As captain, he tried to organize a defence that was being pulled all over the place. He made some crucial blocks and clearances, but it was relentless. From our perspective, he never stopped trying to rally his troops, but the quality gap was just enormous. A long and difficult afternoon for him.

Jack Hunt - 4.0: A disastrous 30 minutes for the defender. The own goal was incredibly unlucky, a horrible moment for any player. To then have to go off with an injury just added insult to... well, injury. You have to feel for him. It was a day where absolutely nothing went right.

Midfielders

Morgan Fox - 5.5: Spent the entire match chasing shadows in midfield. He worked hard to close down space but was consistently bypassed by Arsenal's one-touch passing. It was a frustrating experience for him, as he was unable to get a foothold in the game. He never gave up, but he was overwhelmed.

Jensen Weir - 6.0: One of the few Wigan players to come away with a little bit of credit. He threw himself into tackles and made several important clearances. What stood out to us was his work rate, he never stopped running for the cause. Showed real fight in a team that was on the ropes.

Raphael Borges Rodrigues - 6.5: Probably Wigan's best player on the day. He was the only one who looked capable of making something happen when he got the ball. He had a shot on target and wasn't afraid to try and take players on. A small glimmer of light on a very dark day for the club.

Owen Moxon - 5.5: He ran his socks off but struggled to make an impact. The game largely passed him by in the midfield battle, and he ended up getting a yellow card for a frustrated challenge. He lost possession too many times under pressure. A tough lesson against a top-tier midfield.

Forwards

Fraser Murray - 5.0: Completely anonymous. We barely noticed he was on the pitch. He was starved of service and was left totally isolated up front. It's hard to be too critical when your team has so little of the ball, but he offered next to nothing. A spectator for large parts of the game.

Callum Wright - 6.0: He deserves credit for creating Wigan's best chance of the game. It was a moment of quality in a performance that lacked it elsewhere. He showed some nice touches when he did get on the ball. He at least tried to be creative and provide a spark for his team.

Joe Taylor - 5.5: He'll be having nightmares about that big chance he missed. In a game like this, you simply have to take those opportunities. Other than that one moment, he was chasing lost causes all day. It's a tough job being a lone striker in a team that is being so thoroughly dominated.

Manager

G. Whelan - 5.0: What can you say? His team came to the Emirates Stadium and were completely blown away. The tactics to sit deep and absorb pressure failed within 10 minutes. The gulf in class was brutally exposed. There wasn't much he could have done differently to change the outcome; his players were just not at the required level.

Man of the Match

Eberechi Eze was our man of the match in this FA Cup fixture.

Worst Performer

Jack Hunt of Wigan Athletic was the worst performer in the Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic game.