Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal FC’s mounting injury problems are becoming a concern as the club chase an ambitious quadruple this season.

The Gunners eased into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Yet the comprehensive win was overshadowed by fresh fitness setbacks.

Riccardo Calafiori was ruled out after sustaining an issue in the pre-match warm-up, while Ben White was forced off during the second half. Club captain Martin Ødegaard also missed the tie after picking up a knock in Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Brentford FC.

Further forward, Kai Havertz is expected to be sidelined for at least the remainder of the month, and Mikel Merino faces a lengthy absence after undergoing foot surgery that could rule him out for the rest of the campaign.

With Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League, preparing for a UEFA Champions League last-16 tie and due to meet Manchester City in the League Cup final, Arteta acknowledged the growing list of absentees is far from ideal.

“Yes. Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders and now it is the midfielders,” he said. “We are coping with that. But we need some players back and fit, not only for numbers but different options in relation to the opponents we have, so the quicker they are back the better.”

Arsenal, currently four points clear at the summit, face a trip to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday before next weekend’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

They could hardly have asked for better preparation after racing into a four-goal lead inside 27 minutes against Wigan, courtesy of strikes from Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, an own goal from Jack Hunt and Gabriel Jesus.

There was also encouragement for Eberechi Eze, who joined from Crystal Palace FC last year and has endured a mixed season. The England international, withdrawn at half-time against Brentford in his first league start for two months, responded with two assists against Wigan in a much-improved display.

“Those players need those moments, and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments,” Arteta said. “I am very happy with that. For the mood, for the confidence, it is really a good thing.

“The risks he took in the final third and the amount of shots that he tried to take too, it was really positive and that is what we want from him.”