Overview
- Arsenal confirmed five minutes before the Wigan tie that Riccardo Calafiori was withdrawn from the starting lineup.
- Bukayo Saka was added to the XI and took the armband, with Ben White previously set to captain in Martin Ødegaard’s absence.
- Myles Lewis-Skelly, initially due to start in midfield, shifted to left-back as Saka operated in a more central role.
- Broadcast and local reports stated the switch had little impact on the match state with Arsenal already leading 4-0 at the Emirates.
- The club has not disclosed the severity or timeline of Calafiori’s issue, which follows a similar warm-up withdrawal against Brighton in December.