Mikel Arteta confirmed he could proceed with Bukayo Saka in a more central role following Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Wigan.
Saka had not been expected to begin on the Emirates on Sunday afternoon, but was a late addition to Arteta’s XI after Riccardo Calafiori pulled up with an injury in warm-up.
The change saw Myles Lewis-Skelly drop back from midfield to left-back, with Saka starting in the center behind Gabriel Jesus and flanked by Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke.
Such a last-minute switch had the potential to throw the Gunners off their preparation against their League One opposition, in what was a repeat of the edges’ 2014 FA Cup semi-final.
However the hosts wasted little time in putting Wigan to the sword, with the impressive Eberechi Eze assisting each Madueke and Martinelli before Jack Hunt headed the ball into his own net.
Gabriel Jesus finished coolly to place the house team well and truly out of sight before the half-hour mark and Arteta’s men held firm to secure their spot within the fifth round for the primary time in six years.
The injuries to Calafiori and Ben White – who was forced off within the 79th minute – took among the gloss off an otherwise dream weekend for the Premier League leaders.
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Club captain Martin Odegaard also sat out the clash after hobbling away from Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford on Thursday night.
‘I’m very glad with the result and particularly with the performance,’ Arteta told reporters at his post-match press conference.
‘The way in which we began the sport… you really need to indicate how much you wish it whenever you play against this kind of opposition within the cup and we definitely had that attitude.
‘I used to be a little bit surprised with the extent of cohesion and connection very early within the match because, whenever you make that many changes, that is usually a a part of the sport that’s lacking.
‘However it definitely wasn’t and we scored some very, excellent goals so I’m more than happy with that.’
Saka played a key role in Hunt’s Twenty third-minute own goal and was removed on the halfway stage, with the Gunners back in Premier League motion at struggling Wolves on Wednesday.
Asked if he was tempted to proceed with Saka in a more central position, the Spaniard replied: ‘Yeah, that’s something that’s a possibility and I desired to try it.
‘We would use it in the longer term.
‘There’s still so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play from now until the tip of the season.
‘That’s a possibility that we now have, yeah.’
After what would have been a a difficult few days, Eze was arguably Arsenal’s standout performer within the absence of the likes of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.
The previous Palace midfielder was hauled off on the halfway stage against Brentford on Thursday but silenced his doubters with a resurgent display against Wigan.
‘Some superb balls and his intentions,’ Arteta said of Eze’s eye-catching showing.
‘I feel the risks he took in the ultimate third, the quantity of shots that he tried to take as well, I feel that’s really positive.
‘That’s what we wish from him.
‘He’s already playing a giant role. He’s played loads of games for us and he’ll proceed to try this.’
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