The oldest cup competition in the world, always throws up some surprises… and I’m hoping any Arsenal surprises, are pleasant ones.
We’re at the Emirates Stadium, where we face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
The Latics have recently appointed a new manager, but by now… The Arsenal are used to facing teams, with that new manager bounce.
Wigan sit 22nd in League One, and are on the back of a 2-1 home defeat, at the hands of Reading.
We’re on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Brentford.
On paper, we should obliterate Wigan… but as I’ve said before… football matches aren’t played on paper.
The starting line-up was Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, Benny Blanco at right-back, Saliba and Mosquera, in central defence… and Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
Lewis-Skelly was initially going to start in midfield, but Calafiori getting injured during the warm-up, changed Arteta’s plans… which is a shame, as many Arsenal fans, including me, are longing to see Lewis-Skelly start games in midfield.
Anywhoooo…. In the midfield it was Norgaard, Saka, and Eze.
Saka in a more central role excited me, because he absolutely has the creativity, to play this role. He has the intelligence, passing accuracy, and the vision too. I hope it’s not the last time we see our Starboy in that position.
The front three was Madueke on the right, Gabriel Jesus through the middle, and Martinelli on the left.
We started the game well, and it became apparent early-on, that Saka was given freedom to float around in dangerous areas. He, and Madueke, were linking up superbly,… and despite Wigan trying to sit in a low defensive block… we were finding space all over the pitch, and we were incredibly efficient, in those spaces.
Arsenal being two leagues above Wigan, started to show… and in the 11th minute, the wheels fell off Wigan’s wagon.
Eze beat his man on the midfield line, and spotted Madueke making a great run. Eze found him with pinpoint accuracy, and Madueke slotted the ball home calmly. It was a great pass, and it was mirrored, by the composure shown on the finish. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
Our dominance continued, we sensed that the floodgates were open now… and the 18th minute, confirmed there was no dam in sight.
Eze again picked the ball up, but a little further forward in midfield this time… he slid the ball to Matrinelli, who held off his defender, and finished confidently. He made it look so easy… and our ruthlessness in front of goal, was a joy to behold. Something that was missing in our game against Brentford. 2-0 to The Arsenal!!
The clock displayed 23 minutes… and Madueke beat his man on the right, and played the ball into his fellow minister of havoc, Bukayo Saka. The Starboy got to the byline, put the ball into a dangerous area, and it was finished expertly, by the Wigan defender, Jack Hunt. He put the ball into his own net, and made it 3-0 to The Arsenal!!
The Gunners were determined not to allow us to catch our breath… and though I was fighting for oxygen, I was enjoying myself. Breathing is overrated anyway. (HAHA!)
Only a mere 27 minutes had passed, and as The Latics attempted to fix their Wigan Wheels, we interrupted their repairs, once again.
Norgaard the protagonist this time… put the ball under his spell, in his own half… and played a fantastic ball over the top, to the sprinting Gabriel Jesus. The Wigan keeper rushed off his line, to quell the striker’s intentions… but Jesus just dinked the ball over him nonchalantly, and then turned water into wine. An exquisite finish!! 4-0 to The Arsenal!!
The Gunners became the first Premier League team, to score 4 goals, in the opening 30 minutes of an FA Cup tie.
That’s how the first half finished anyway, with The Arsenal 4 goals to the good.
I expected a combination of a damage limitation exercise from Wigan, and a foot off the gas performance from The Gunners, in the second half… and that’s exactly what I got.
Gyokeres replaced Saka at half-time, as Saka’s not fully fit… However, even with the introduction of Gyokeres… firearms remained on safety, and Wigan’s wagon wheels, were restored to their former glory, except this time, they were made of bricks… instead of straw, and wet A4 paper.
Cruising, and just seeing the game out, Arteta made further substitutions. In the 62nd minute, Marli Salmon replaced William Saliba. A second FA Cup appearance for Marli Salmon, after making a cameo against Portsmouth, in the previous round. An extremely proud moment for him… and for his family, and friends.
Leandro Trossard came on for the irrepressible, Noni Madueke… who scored for the third consecutive game. It’s great to see him show this kind of form, at the business end of the season… and long may it continue.
We had some nearly moments in the later stages of the game, the most memorable being a Gyokeres shot that hit the post… but ultimately, we finished the game in the first half.. so we didn’t have to exert ourselves too much. Energy, was conserved.
Martin Zubimendi replaced Benny Blanco in the 79th minute, who I thought had a good game. Ben White is definitely back to his best, and I hope now that he can stay injury free.
We’re going to need EVERYONE in this gruelling title run-in, that’s for sure.
There was a wonderful moment in the 87th minute, when the young goalkeeper Tommy Setford, came on for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
At just 19 years old, he’s made his FA Cup debut for the senior team. A proud, and surreal moment for him I imagine, and for his family, and friends.
As you’ve probably guessed, the match ended 4-0 to The Arsenal… and it was a much needed, feel good performance, after the Brentford result in the Premier League.
We played with a freedom, and a fluidity, that made us look like scoring, with every attack. Yes, I’ll have to caveat that “It’s only Wigan” but with the changes made to the starting line-up, and with players starting in unfamiliar positions… the cohesion, was impressive.
It was a stellar performance from Norgaard by the way, who controlled the midfield, and always tried to play the type of passes, that hurts the opposition.
There was also two assists from Eze, which will do his confidence a world of good, going into the next run of games. Hopefully, this is the start of us putting another winning run together.
Next up we face Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Molineux Stadium… and I’m wandering, if we can keep the wolves from our door. Hopefully, we leave them howling in despair.
Should Arteta play Saka more central, in the game against Wolves?
Does Arteta need to start playing more players, in different positions… or is that too big-a-risk?
Even with this latest injury to Kai Havertz, we still have multiple options in attack… who would you like to see in the frontline against Wolves?
Let me know in the comments, as usual. Thanks for reading, and COYG!!
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