Arsenal demolished League One strugglers Wigan Athletic 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Eberechi Eze delivering a performance that suggested the £67.5 million summer signing may finally be returning to his best form.

The England international, who scored the winning goal for Crystal Palace in last season's FA Cup final, provided two sublime assists as Arsenal wrote themselves into the record books by becoming the first Premier League team to score four goals in the opening 30 minutes of an FA Cup match.

Mikel Arteta's side, currently leading the Premier League and competing on four fronts, needed just 27 minutes to put the game beyond doubt. Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a clinical finish after being found by Eze's perfectly weighted through ball.

Eight minutes later, Eze repeated the trick, this time using his left foot to release Gabriel Martinelli, who made no mistake to double Arsenal's advantage. The Brazilian's goal marked his 10th in cup competitions this season for the Gunners.

An own goal from Jack Hunt preceded Gabriel Jesus' expertly executed chip over Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle to complete the first-half rout. The historic four-goal burst represented Arsenal's 14th victory in the competition they have dominated more than any other club.

For Eze, the performance could not have come at a better time. The 27-year-old playmaker had endured a difficult few months since his hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur in November, his last goals for Arsenal. His struggles reached a low point when Arteta substituted him at half-time during Thursday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Former Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs, speaking to ESPN, praised Eze's contribution to Madueke's opener: "It doesn't matter what level of the game, that is a world-class pass. What I love is the way he beats his man in the middle of the park."

The two assists also ended a 10-year drought for Arsenal, as Eze became the first Gunners player since Hector Bellerin in 2016 to record multiple assists in a single FA Cup match. His six assists this season now have him within striking distance of his career-best 11 in all competitions.

Arteta was effusive in his praise after the match, highlighting the qualities he wants to see more consistently from his summer recruit. "I think the risk that he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well, I think that's really positive. That's what I want from him," the Arsenal manager said.

He continued: "That's what those players need, those moments and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments and I'm very happy with that."

Wigan Athletic arrived at the Emirates mired in League One's relegation zone, sitting 22nd in the table with just one point from their previous seven league matches. The heavy loss to Arsenal came on the heels of Ryan Lowe's dismissal following a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Peterborough United.

Interim managers Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow had little time to prepare their side, who were overwhelmed by Arsenal's attacking quality from the opening whistle. The Latics set up in a defensive back five, but the system was quickly abandoned as Arsenal raced into their commanding lead.

On Monday, Wigan announced the appointment of Gary Caldwell as their new head coach, marking a return to the club where he won the FA Cup as a player in 2013 and guided them to League One promotion as manager in 2016. The 43-year-old Scottish defender left Exeter City, where he had overseen a successful stabilization project in League One.

Caldwell's appointment brings renewed optimism to the Brick Community Stadium, with the club statement noting: "The board believes this appointment represents a step forward - reconnecting the club's proud past with an ambitious future."

Arteta was forced into a late change when Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury during the warm-up, meaning Myles Lewis-Skelly was shifted to left-back rather than his intended midfield position. Captain Martin Odegaard was absent from the matchday squad after picking up a knock against Brentford, while Kai Havertz is expected to miss at least four matches with a muscle injury.

The mounting injury list in attacking midfield is a growing concern for Arsenal as they pursue an unprecedented quadruple. The Gunners have already secured their place in the EFL Cup final and topped the Champions League league phase, while maintaining their position at the Premier League summit.

"We are still coping with that, but we need some players back and fit to give us not only numbers but different options in relation to the opponents that we have. The quicker the better," Arteta admitted when discussing his injury situation.

With Arsenal visiting Molineux on Wednesday and the crucial north London derby against Tottenham looming next weekend, Eze's return to form could prove pivotal for Arsenal's title challenge. If Arsenal can secure victory at Molineux, they would establish a seven-point lead over Manchester City heading into the derby.

The one-sided nature of the contest allowed Arteta to give minutes to several fringe players, including 16-year-old central defender Marli Salmon, who made his Emirates Stadium debut. The highly rated teenager, who has already featured in the Champions League, showed composure when shifted to right-back after Ben White received treatment.

Bukayo Saka, returning from a hip injury, was deployed in an unfamiliar number 10 position before being replaced at half-time by Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish striker hit the post shortly after his introduction as Arsenal continued to threaten Wigan's goal throughout the second half.

Despite the scoreline remaining 4-0, Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle produced several outstanding saves to prevent further embarrassment, denying both Martinelli and Eze in the closing stages. Kepa Arrizabalaga was also called into action, stopping efforts from Joe Taylor and Raphael Rodrigues to preserve his clean sheet.

Arsenal's emphatic victory keeps alive their hopes of becoming the first English team to win all four major competitions in a single season. With 14 FA Cup titles already to their name - more than any other club - the Gunners know the pathway to Wembley well.

The draw for the fifth round will determine Arsenal's next FA Cup opponents, but based on this performance, few teams will relish the prospect of facing Arteta's in-form side. The manner of the victory, combined with Eze's revival and the depth demonstrated by the squad rotations, sends a strong message to Arsenal's rivals across all competitions.

For Eze, who described his FA Cup triumph with Crystal Palace as "the most special day of [his] career," the competition has once again provided a platform to showcase his considerable talents. Whether this performance marks a genuine turning point in his Arsenal career remains to be seen, but the early signs from the Emirates on Sunday were undeniably encouraging.