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Arsenal player ratings vs Wigan Athletic as Eberechi Eze delivers top display with six 8/10s
Football | February 16, 2026 4:39 AM CST

Arsenal went through to the fifth round of the FA Cup after a comfortable afternoon against League One side Wigan Athletic. After making eight changes from the draw at Brentford, it gave plenty of less-utilised stars a chance to play.

Before kick-off, there was drama, with Riccardo Calafiori being taken out of the team and replaced in the starting eleven by Bukayo Saka.

That did not impact Arsenal too much, though, as the home side took the lead inside the opening ten minutes after Eberechi Eze played the ball through to the onrushing Noni Madueke, who finished clinically. The former Crystal Palace man was again involved, finding Gabriel Martinelli, who finished with a left-footed strike.

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Saka’s cross was then headed into his own net by Jack Hunt before Christian Norgaard’s long ball found an onside Gabriel Jesus, who finished with a chip. The second half, perhaps unsurprisingly fell away.

Here is how fooball.london rated the performances of the Arsenal players involved:

Kepa Arrizabalaga – Forced into a good save in the first half from Joe Taylor who found himself through on goal after a Norgaard error. Had a couple long range shots and crosses to deal with but otherwise untroubled. 8

Ben White – Bit of a weird game for White who was up and down the right hand side all game. An odd moment in the second half when he hooked the ball into his own box with a sliding tackle. 7

Cristhian Mosquera – Unsurprisingly had very little to do throughout the game. Was untroubled throughout but stood tall in the duels and nearly scored from a corner. 8

William Saliba – Had very little to do throughout the game but dealt well with anything that did come his way. 8

Myles Lewis-Skelly – Thought he was going to play in midfield, but the issue with Calafiori meant he was back at the left full-back role. It wouldn’t necessarily be a game where he has worked his way into Arteta’s plans and was rash when put in a few defensive duels. 6

Christian Norgaard – What a ball over the top from the Dane to find Jesus for the Gunners’ fourth. However, he was fortunate not to cost the Gunners a goal after gifting the chance to Taylor. 7

Eberechi Eze – Brilliant through ball to his England teammate Madueke for the first goal in a game where he needed a big performance. It continued around ten minutes later when he found the left-footed ball to Martinelli for the second. 9

Bukayo Saka – A surprise start after replacing Riccardo Calafiori, who suffered an issue, it was his cross that forced the Gunners’ third on the day. It was quite fun to see him play in the free role, with a couple of blocked shots, and he came off at half-time. 7

Noni Madueke – Scored the opening goal, a through ball found the winger, and a left-footed strike comfortably beat the keeper. 8

Gabriel Jesus – The Brazilian scored the fourth, dinking the ball over the keeper from close range with aplomb. Still, however, cannot stay onside when it counts, otherwise he might’ve had another. 8

Gabriel Martinelli – Great left-footed finish after the ball from Eze, across the keeper and into the corner, leaving the question of where that level of clinical finishing has been all season. 8

Substitutes:

Viktor Gyokeres – Struck the post with a shot after ten minutes of coming on at half-time. That was really his only big threatening moment of the half he played, but he lacked service. 6

Marli Salmon – Making his home debut, a special moment for the youngster. Duelled well and did not look out of place. 6

Leandro Trossard – There is no player who can pull off some of the tricks that Trossard does quite like the Belgian. 6

Martin Zubimendi – Had to replace Ben White who it seemed was cramping before the final ten minutes. The Spaniard found a great cross to Martinelli in the box which the winger should have scored. 6

Tommy Setford - The Arsenal youngster made his home debut for the club. n/a


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