Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has vowed to change his team for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round match against League One side Wigan Athletic as the Premier League leaders look to “recover from their midweek disappointment at Brentford”.
Arsenal squandered a chance to restore their six-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after drawing 1-1 at Brentford on Thursday.
Arteta said a change of competition and a home game offered the team a chance to reset, while resting tired legs, as the club continued to fight for trophies on four fronts.
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“Yes, that’s what we’ve been doing, trying to make sure everyone is an important part of what we’re doing in different competitions. Sunday will be the same,” Arteta told reporters when asked about the team rotation.
“Every three days we get used to playing different competitions, at home or away. We know what that competition means for the club and for ourselves.”
Arsenal are the record winners of the FA Cup having lifted the trophy 14 times, but have not won it since 2019-20, Arteta’s first season as manager. He also hasn’t made it past the fourth round in the last five years.
“We weren’t good enough that day and when you come to a competition you have to be excellent that day,” Arteta said.
“So we’ll have to prove it again against Wigan on Sunday.”
Arteta said his decision to replace Eberechi Eze at halftime of the Brentford game was a tactical change, but defended his £68 million ($92.5 million) signing, who has yet to secure a starting role.
“I think he had moments and it’s not easy when you move to a new club, it’s always like that,” Arteta said.
“When you play against a team that is like that and the ball is often not on the court and you have to constantly be interrupting the game and doing that, especially for offensive and creative players, is more difficult.”
Posted on February 13, 2026