Key Takeaways:
- Arsenal progressed to the FA Cup fifth round with a 4-0 win over Wigan at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday
- Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori both sustained injuries, while Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Mikel Merino remain sidelined
- Arsenal, currently four points clear atop the Premier League, will visit Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday prior to facing Tottenham next weekend
Growing Injury List Clouds Arsenal’s Ambitions
Arsenal’s 4-0 triumph over Wigan in the FA Cup on Sunday offered little respite for manager Mikel Arteta, whose squad has been beset by fresh injury worries. Riccardo Calafiori was ruled out after suffering a setback in the pre-match warm-up, while right-back Ben White was forced to leave the pitch during the second half. Martin Odegaard, captain, also missed the fixture, having picked up a knock in the 1-1 draw against Brentford last Thursday.
🗣️ Mikel Arteta on if he is worried about the squad with injuries: “Yes, and especially because we are going through. First it was the strikers, then defenders, now it’s the midfielders. We are still coping with that, but we need players back and fit.” ❌🤕pic.twitter.com/AOGmhKcD5T
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) February 15, 2026
The Gunners’ concerns escalate as Kai Havertz is expected to remain unavailable for at least the rest of the month. Meanwhile, Mikel Merino, who recently underwent foot surgery, is anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of the season. These cumulative absences come at a crucial stage, with Arsenal sitting atop the Premier League, having booked a Champions League last 16 berth, and set to contest Manchester City in the League Cup final.
Arteta Addresses Squad Depth Dilemma
Arteta acknowledged the mounting fitness issues, remarking that the injuries have now begun to affect every area of the squad: “Yes. Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders and now it is the midfielders,” he said.
“We are coping with that. But we need some players back and fit, not only for numbers but different options in relation to the opponents we have, so the quicker they are back the better.”
FA Cup Performance: Early Goals Put Wigan to the Sword
Despite the injury setbacks, Arsenal produced a devastating opening half-hour, striking four times in the first 27 minutes to eliminate Wigan. Noni Madueke opened the scoring, with Gabriel Martinelli adding to the tally before a Jack Hunt own goal and a fourth by Gabriel Jesus sealed the result.
Eberechi Eze Highlights Attacking Quality
One positive sign for Arsenal was the resurgent form of Eberechi Eze. Having come under pressure after being substituted at half-time in the Brentford match, Eze responded with two assists against Wigan, displaying the creative spark that persuaded the club to secure his signature from Crystal Palace last year.
Arteta praised Eze’s contribution: “Those players need those moments, and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments,” he said.
“I am very happy with that. For the mood, for the confidence, it is really a good thing.
The risks he took in the final third and the amount of shots that he tried to take too, it was really positive and that is what we want from him.”
Major Fixtures Loom for Injury-Hit Arsenal
Maintaining a four-point advantage at the Premier League summit, Arsenal now prepare to meet bottom-placed Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday, followed by the North London derby at Tottenham next weekend. The club’s bid for success on multiple fronts could hinge on how swiftly Arteta’s squad can recover from its current spate of injuries.
