Arsenal vs Wigan after 12 years, and history that waits to be repeated
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 15.02.26. | 14:06
The last time the Gunners faced the Latics, they barely eliminated them from the FA Cup, but eventually won the trophy
On April 12, 2014, Arsenal and Wigan met for the last time. It was also an FA Cup duel (just like today, 19.30), but in the semi-finals. That was the first Latics' season in the Championship after seven consecutive Premier League campaigns.
Still, Uwe Rosler's crew turned out to be a tough nut to crack, as the Gunners barely avoided defeat thanks to Per Mertesacker's 82nd-minute leveller (Jordi Gomez had put Wigan in the lead 19 minutes earlier). After a 30-minute extra-time battle, the penalties were to decide the winner.
⏪ Throwback to Arsenal overcoming Wigan on penalties in the 2014 FA Cup semi-final 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2026
The two teams go head-to-head again this weekend 👊 pic.twitter.com/bJUWLwYit1
In the shoot-out, Wigan's players missed two strikes, Mikel Arteta (the name rings a bell, right?), Kim Kallstrom, Olivier Giroud, and Santi Cazorla all hit the mark and took Arsenal to the grand final, in which they'd beat Hull City and win the FA Cup trophy.
Since then, the North London side has won three more trophies in this competition, while the Latics have never returned to the EPL and currently play in League One, the third division of English football.
Twelve years ago, Arsenal were firm favourites, and today, anything but their victory would have been a colossal upset. After all, they are topping the Premier League table, while Wigan are in the relegation zone, close to dropping to the fourth division. Moreover, the Gunners have been undefeated for five games, and the Latics have been winless for over a month.
Arteta now faces them as a coach for the first time with fond memories of their previous meeting, hoping for the same FA Cup outcome as in 2014.
FA CUP - ROUND 4
Friday
Hull - Chelsea 0-4 (0-1)
/Neto 40, 51, 71, Estevao 59/
Wrexham - Ipswich 1-0 (1-0)
/Windass 34/
Saturday
Burton - West Ham 0-1 (AET )
/Summerville 95/
Burnley - Mansfield 1-2 (1-0)
/Laurent 21 - Oates 53, Reed 80/
Man. City - Salford City 2-0 (1-0)
/Dorrington 6 og, Guehi 81/
Norwich - WBA 3-1 (1-0)
/Maghoma 31, Chrisene 82, Toure 90+3 - Maja 68/
Port Vale - Bristol City POSTPONED
Southampton - Leicester 2-1 (AET)
/Larin 45+1 pen, Bree 109 - Skipp 52/
Aston Villa - Newcastle 1-3 (1-0)
/Abraham 14 - Tonali 63, 76, Woltemade 88
Liverpool - Brighton 3-0 (1-0)
/Jones 42, Szoboszlai 56, Salah 68 pen/
Sunday
15.00: (3.25) Birmingham (3.45) Leeds (2.20)
16.30: (6.75) Grimsby (4.40) Wolverhampton (1.47)
17.00: (5.00) Oxford (3.50) Sunderland (1.75)
17.00: (4.90) Stoke (3.60) Fulham (1.75)
19.30: (1.03) Arsenal (15.0) Wigan (50.0)
Monday
22.30: (12.0) Macclesfield (6.50) Brentford (1.22)
***odds are subject to change***