Football has a special magic when the FA Cup comes around. It does not matter where a team sits in the league table. It does not matter how rich or famous the club is. When the cup games begin, everything feels different. That is the situation as Arsenal prepare to welcome Wigan Athletic to the Emirates Stadium for a fourth-round clash that promises drama, history, and emotion.
Arsenal continue their journey in the famous FA Cup with a home tie against Wigan Athletic. The match kicks off at 4:30pm UK time, and the atmosphere in north London is expected to be electric. The FA Cup is a competition full of memories for Arsenal fans, and every new season brings fresh hope that another trophy can be lifted at Wembley.
In the previous round, Arsenal showed their strength. A brilliant hat-trick from Gabriel Martinelli helped the Gunners knock out Portsmouth in style. The Brazilian forward was full of energy, sharp in front of goal, and hungry to make an impact. His three goals were a reminder of his importance to the team. That victory gave Arsenal confidence, and it also reminded everyone that the club takes this competition seriously.
The last time Arsenal faced Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup was a moment fans will never forget. It happened during the 2013/14 season in the semi-finals. That dramatic game ended 1-1 after extra time, and it went to penalties. Arsenal held their nerve to win 4-2 in the shootout. One of the players who scored a penalty that day was none other than the current manager, Mikel Arteta. That victory sent Arsenal to the final, where they defeated Hull City 3-2 in a thrilling match to lift the trophy. It was a special day and ended a long wait for silverware.
Now, many years later, the two sides meet again in this famous competition. But their situations are very different.
Arsenal come into this game with confidence. They are playing at home, and the Emirates Stadium will be full of supporters expecting a strong performance. Arsenal’s history in the FA Cup is rich. They have lifted the trophy many times, and they know how to handle the pressure that comes with big cup ties.
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Wigan Athletic, on the other hand, arrive with mixed emotions. Their league form in League One has been poor. The Latics have slipped into the relegation zone after a difficult run of results. They have lost several matches and struggled for consistency. Their last league win came before their impressive FA Cup victory over Preston North End. That 1-0 win at Deepdale shocked many people. Preston were pushing for the Championship play-offs, and most fans expected them to win. But Wigan showed heart, discipline, and determination to cause an upset.
That is the beauty of the FA Cup. It gives struggling teams a chance to forget their league problems and focus on one big game. Wigan have already proven they can rise to the occasion. In 2013, they even won the FA Cup, defeating the mighty Manchester City in the final. That memory still lives strong among their supporters. It reminds them that anything is possible.
However, recent events have made things more complicated for Wigan. After a poor run in the league, the club decided to sack manager Ryan Lowe after 11 months in charge. It was a tough decision, but results forced the board to act. For this match, Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow will take charge on an interim basis. They will try to lift the players’ spirits and inspire them to produce something special in north London.
Mikel Arteta has spoken positively ahead of the game. He described the FA Cup as an amazing competition with great history connected to Arsenal. He is excited to see his players recover quickly and focus on another opportunity to compete for a trophy. Arteta understands how important this competition is to the club and its fans. He wants to build momentum and keep the winning mentality strong.
Graham Barrow has also shared his thoughts. He spoke about fear and nerves, saying they can be positive emotions. According to him, top sportsmen need nerves because it shows they care. The key, he explained, is to control those nerves and use them as motivation. His message is clear: Wigan should not be frightened of Arsenal. Instead, they should use the occasion to push themselves to a higher level.
Team news always plays a big role before important matches. Arsenal have a few concerns. Mikel Merino remains out with a foot injury. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard recently returned from injury and came off the bench against Brentford after missing the Sunderland match. Their fitness will be carefully managed. William Saliba missed the Brentford game due to illness, while Kai Havertz picked up a knock in the previous win. Arteta will need to decide who is ready to start and who might need more time.
Wigan, however, have reported no fresh injuries following their 2-1 defeat at home to Reading. That could be a small advantage for the visitors. Having a full squad available gives the interim managers more options as they prepare their plan.
Tactically, this match is interesting. Former Wigan boss Ryan Lowe used different formations in his final games. He switched between a 3-1-4-2, a 4-3-3, and a 4-4-2 system. This makes it difficult to predict how Wigan will line up. They often focus their play down the right side, where Fraser Murray has been very active. His crossing ability has been impressive at League One level.
Wigan are not a possession-heavy team. In League One, they average just under 45% of the ball. In their FA Cup win over Preston, that number dropped to around 30%. That means Arsenal will likely dominate possession at the Emirates. The Gunners are comfortable controlling the ball and building attacks patiently.
But Wigan do have technical players who can pass well. One interesting name is Matt Smith, a former Arsenal academy player. He was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2020 against Chelsea. He understands what it means to compete in this tournament and will be eager to impress against his old club.
History shows that Arsenal usually perform strongly at home against Wigan. The Latics have lost 10 of their 11 away games against Arsenal in all competitions. Their only away win in this fixture came in April 2012 under Roberto Martinez. That statistic will give Arsenal confidence.
Arsenal are also chasing another milestone. They are aiming to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since the 2019/20 season, when they went on to win the competition. Since then, they have suffered early exits. Arteta will want to avoid any slip-up.
Wigan’s away record in the FA Cup is impressive. They have won their last six away matches in the competition, conceding just one goal in that run. That shows they know how to perform on the road in cup ties. If they win again, it would be one of the longest away winning streaks in FA Cup history.
Set pieces could be important. All four of Arsenal’s goals against Portsmouth came from dead-ball situations — three corners and one free-kick. Even though Arsenal have played only one FA Cup match this season, no team has scored more set-piece goals in the competition so far. That is a clear strength.
The match officials have also been confirmed. Tim Robinson will referee the contest. His last visit to the Emirates was in December 2023 when Arsenal beat Brighton 2-0. He will be assisted by Ian Hussin and Marc Perry, with Andrew Madley as the fourth official. There will be no VAR for this match, which means decisions will rely fully on the on-field officials.
Memories of Wembley add extra emotion to this tie. Twelve years ago, Arsenal and Wigan met in that dramatic semi-final. Wigan had already shocked Manchester City in the quarter-final and were dreaming of another upset. They took the lead through Jordi Gomez, and it looked like Arsenal might fall short. But Per Mertesacker scored a late header to force extra time. Then, in the penalty shootout, Lukasz Fabianski made crucial saves to send Arsenal to the final. That moment changed everything for the club.
The FA Cup has always been part of Arsenal’s identity. It represents history, pride, and unforgettable moments. Facing Wigan again brings back those memories, but football is about the present. Both teams will focus on what happens on the pitch this Sunday.
For Arsenal, this is a chance to build momentum and move one step closer to Wembley. For Wigan, it is an opportunity to forget league struggles and write a new chapter in their cup story.
When the whistle blows at the Emirates, league positions will not matter. Only performance, courage, and determination will count. The FA Cup magic will once again take centre stage, and fans from both sides will hope their team can seize the moment.
