Arsenal struck four times inside the opening 30 minutes to sweep aside Wigan Athletic and book a place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years.

The Premier League leaders overwhelmed their League One opponents from the first whistle and went ahead in the 11th minute. Eberechi Eze collected the ball near halfway and threaded a precise through pass to Noni Madueke, who calmly slotted beyond Sam Tickle.

Seven minutes later, the Gunners doubled their lead, with Eze again the provider — this time setting up Gabriel Martinelli to tuck his finish into the corner.

The third arrived when Jack Hunt turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear after slick interplay between Bukayo Saka and Madueke.

Saka had only been drafted into the starting line-up late on after Riccardo Calafiori withdrew during the warm-up through injury, and the England winger operated in an unfamiliar central midfield role.

His midfield partner, Christian Norgaard, then teed up Gabriel Jesus for the fourth, with the striker deftly lifting the ball over the advancing Tickle.

That blistering start made Arsenal the first Premier League side to score four goals within the opening half-hour of an FA Cup tie.

Wigan threatened a consolation goal during one of their rare forward moves, but Kepa Arrizabalaga produced a fine save to keep out Joe Taylor, while substitute Viktor Gyokeres struck the post for the visitors after the break.

Arsenal had not progressed to the fifth round since 2020 — the year they last lifted the trophy under Mikel Arteta in his debut season in charge, which remains their most recent piece of silverware.