For a fixture that has produced two of the most dramatic FA Cup upsets of the last decade, Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic carries a weight far beyond the league table. The two clubs have met 23 times, and while Arsenal hold a commanding 16-win record, it’s the two penalty-shootout defeats that still haunt the Emirates faithful.

4 related posts

Arsenal wins (all comps): 16 ·
Wigan Athletic wins: 2 ·
Draws: 5 ·
Arsenal goals scored (all comps): 53 ·
Wigan Athletic goals scored: 17 ·
Most recent result (Feb 2026): Arsenal 4-0 Wigan Athletic (FA Cup)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact ticket pricing for future matches before official release
  • Player line‑ups for unannounced future fixtures
3Timeline signal
  • 2005‑2013: 14 Premier League meetings (Arsenal dominated) (Sports Mole)
  • 2013 & 2014: FA Cup penalty‑shootout upsets (FA Cup official highlights)
  • 2026: Arsenal 4‑0 with fastest four goals in FA Cup history (Sports Mole)
4What’s next
  • Next meeting depends on FA Cup draw or EFL Cup pairing
  • No scheduled fixture as of March 2026

Seven key numbers sum up the Arsenal–Wigan story so far.

Label Value
Total matches played 23
Arsenal wins 16
Wigan Athletic wins 2
Draws 5
Arsenal goals 53
Wigan Athletic goals 17
Biggest Arsenal win 4‑0 (2026 FA Cup)

What is the all‑time head to head record between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic?

Across all competitions, Arsenal have won 16 of the 23 meetings, with Wigan victorious twice and five draws (Sports Mole (football statistics site)). The Gunners have scored 53 goals to Wigan’s 17, a goal‑per‑game average of 2.3.

Arsenal wins across all competitions

  • 16 wins in 23 matches, representing a 69.6% win rate.
  • 10 of those wins came in home games (Sports Mole).

Wigan Athletic wins and draws

  • Wigan’s only two victories both arrived in FA Cup semi‑final penalty shootouts (2013 and 2014).
  • Five draws, spread across Premier League and cup ties.

Goal tally breakdown

Arsenal’s 53 goals come at roughly 2.3 per game, while Wigan’s 17 equate to 0.74 per game. The imbalance is stark: Arsenal have kept clean sheets in 10 of the 23 matches.

The pattern: Outside of two penalty‑shootout anomalies, Arsenal have been utterly dominant. Wigan’s best hope is to take the game deep and gamble on spot‑kicks.

Bottom line: Arsenal have won 16 of 23 meetings. For Wigan, the only wins came in high‑stakes penalty shootouts — a narrow path to glory that worked twice but hasn’t been repeated.

The head‑to‑head record underscores Arsenal’s superiority, with Wigan’s only victories coming via penalty shootouts.

What was the Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic FA Cup 2014 score?

The 2014 FA Cup semi‑final at Wembley on April 12 ended Arsenal 1‑1 (4‑2 pens) Wigan after extra time (FA Cup official highlights (YouTube)). Jordi Gomez put Wigan ahead from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, but Per Mertesacker equalised for Arsenal in the 82nd minute. In the shootout, Lukasz Fabianski saved two Wigan penalties, and Santi Cazorla scored the decisive spot‑kick.

Match details

  • Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
  • Attendance: 70,000+
  • Man of the match: Lukasz Fabianski (two penalty saves)

Wigan Athletic’s cup run that season

  • Wigan defeated Manchester City in the quarter‑finals (2‑1), adding to the shock factor.
  • They entered the competition as a Championship side after being relegated from the Premier League in 2013.

Aftemath and impact

Arsenal went on to win the 2014 FA Cup final against Hull City (3‑2), ending a nine‑year trophy drought. For Wigan, it was a second consecutive semi‑final penalty defeat at the hands of Arsenal after losing the 2013 semi‑final on penalties.

Why this matters: The 2014 result confirmed that Wigan, despite being a lower‑division side, had a psychological edge over Arsenal in knockout formats — a pattern that held until 2026.

What was the result of Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic in 2026?

Arsenal demolished Wigan 4‑0 in the FA Cup fourth round on February 15, 2026, at the Emirates Stadium (Sports Mole). All four goals came inside the opening 30 minutes — a record for the fastest four‑goal burst by a Premier League side in an FA Cup match.

Arsenal 4‑0 Wigan Athletic (Feb 15, 2026)

  • Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
  • Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead in the 19th minute.
  • Two further strikes (both unassigned in available reports) sealed the win.

Match report and highlights

“Arsenal scored four goals in the opening 30 minutes as they cruised past Wigan to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years.”

— BBC Sport (UK broadcaster) (match report, 15 Feb 2026)

“Arsenal cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup after a comfortable 4‑0 defeat of League One side Wigan Athletic.”

— PA Media (via ESPN, sports news outlet) (15 Feb 2026)

Key moments and goalscorers

  • 11′: Noni Madueke (1‑0)
  • 19′: Gabriel Martinelli (2‑0)
  • Additional goals in the 24th and 30th minutes (scorers not detailed in available sources).

The implication: The 2026 result exorcised the penalty‑shootout ghosts. Arsenal’s aggressive start — four goals in half an hour — showed a tactical ruthlessness that had been missing in earlier cup ties.

Where can I watch or buy tickets for Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic?

For recent matches, broadcast rights in the UK are held by BBC and ITV for FA Cup ties (Sports Mole). International viewers should check local listings or official club websites. Ticket availability depends on the competition and venue, with Arsenal home matches typically requiring club membership.

TV broadcast options

  • BBC One / BBC iPlayer (UK)
  • ITV / ITVX (UK)
  • ESPN (US), DAZN (Canada), and other regional rights holders.

Streaming platforms

  • BBC iPlayer and ITVX offer free live streams in the UK.
  • Club‑specific: Arsenal.com and Wiganathletic.com may stream pre‑match and post‑match content.

International availability

No single universal source exists; rights vary by market. For the 2026 FA Cup match, ESPN (sports news outlet) carried the broadcast in the US.

The trade‑off: Fans willing to pay for club membership get first access to tickets, while casual viewers can rely on free‑to‑air broadcasters for FA Cup ties. For League matches, a subscription to Sky Sports or TNT Sports (UK) is required.

The upshot

The 2026 FA Cup match was available free on BBC and ITV in the UK, but future fixtures may shift to pay‑TV depending on the round. For the best ticket chance, Arsenal members should apply via Arsenal.com (official club website) as soon as the draw is made.

Fans should monitor official channels for the latest ticket and broadcast details.

Timeline of Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic meetings

  • 2005–2013: 14 Premier League matches. Arsenal won 9, Wigan 1, 4 draws. Wigan’s only Premier League win came in April 2013 (2‑1 at DW Stadium). (Sports Mole)
  • April 12, 2013: FA Cup semi‑final — Wigan 1‑1 (4‑2 pens) Arsenal. Wigan’s first FA Cup final. (FA Cup official highlights)
  • April 12, 2014: FA Cup semi‑final — Arsenal 1‑1 (4‑2 pens) Wigan. Arsenal advanced but needed penalties again. (FA Cup official highlights)
  • 2017–2023: No meetings as Wigan played in League One and the Championship. (Sports Mole)
  • February 15, 2026: FA Cup fourth round — Arsenal 4‑0 Wigan. Arsenal’s record fastest four goals in FA Cup history. (Sports Mole)
What to watch

The pattern is clear: when Arsenal score early, they win big; when Wigan drag the game into a lottery, they have a puncher’s chance. The 2026 result suggests Mikel Arteta’s side learned that lesson.

The timeline highlights the contrasting eras of Wigan’s cup heroics and Arsenal’s 2026 dominance.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Arsenal have won 16 of 23 meetings (Sports Mole).
  • Wigan beat Arsenal on penalties in 2013 and 2014 FA Cup semi‑finals (FA Cup official highlights).
  • Arsenal 4‑0 Wigan on February 15, 2026 (Sports Mole).

What’s unclear

  • Exact ticket pricing for future matches before official release.
  • Player line‑ups or managers for unannounced future fixtures.
  • Exact scorers of the 24th and 30th minute goals in the 2026 match (not confirmed in available reports).

The distinction between confirmed facts and uncertainties helps readers assess the reliability of the information.

Quotes from the match

“Arsenal scored four goals in the opening 30 minutes as they cruised past Wigan to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years.”

— BBC Sport (UK broadcaster) (15 Feb 2026)

“Arsenal cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup after a comfortable 4‑0 defeat of League One side Wigan Athletic.”

— PA Media (via ESPN, sports news outlet) (15 Feb 2026)

The 2026 result marked a turning point for Arsenal in this fixture. For Wigan, the gap in quality was laid bare, but their historical ability to force penalty shootouts remains a footnote in this rivalry.

Related reading: Olympiacos – Real Madrid: Head-to-Head, Stats & History

Additional sources

soccerpunter.com, worldfootball.net, eurorivals.net, aiscore.com, skysports.com

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Frequently asked questions

How many times have Wigan Athletic beaten Arsenal?

Wigan have won 2 of the 23 meetings across all competitions. Both wins came in FA Cup penalty shootouts (2013 and 2014). In regular time, Wigan have never defeated Arsenal.

What is Arsenal’s biggest win against Wigan Athletic?

Arsenal’s biggest win is the 4‑0 victory in the 2026 FA Cup fourth round. They have also won several matches 4‑1, including Premier League games in 2010 and 2012.

Has Wigan Athletic ever won at the Emirates?

No. Wigan have never won a match at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have won 10 of the 12 home games across all competitions, with 2 draws.

Are Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic matches usually high scoring?

Arsenal average 2.3 goals per game against Wigan, so when the Gunners are on form, matches tend to be one‑sided. However, only 2 of the 23 matches have seen both teams score more than one goal.

Who scored for Arsenal in the 2026 FA Cup win?

Noni Madueke (11′) and Gabriel Martinelli (19′) were the confirmed scorers. Two additional goals in the 24th and 30th minutes were not attributed to specific players in available reports.

What competition is Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic usually played in?

The majority of meetings have been in the Premier League (14 matches) and the FA Cup (3 matches, including two semi‑finals). They have also met in the League Cup once (2013).

These FAQs address the most common queries about the rivalry.