Belief is starting to grow that Arsenal could end the season with not just one but multiple pieces of silverware. On Sunday, the Gunners demolished Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the FA Cup, all the goals coming in the opening 27 minutes, with Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus scoring.
Just over 24 hours later, the fifth round draw took place at Moss Rose, with Gooners fearing a date with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea or Newcastle. Instead, they will make the 137 mile journey north to take on Mansfield Town at Field Mill. Having so far dumped out Portsmouth and Wigan, MikelArteta's team continue to be lucky in these draw.
Arsenal facing 3+ non-PL clubs in the FA Cup (1968-present)
Year Opponents Outcome
2026 Portsmouth, Wigan & Mansfield. TBC
2017 Preston, Sutton & Lincoln. Winners
2015 Brighton, Middlesbrough & Reading Winners
2011 Leeds, Huddersfield & Leyton Orient. Sixth round
2009 Plymouth, Cardiff & Burnley. Semi-finalists
2005 Stoke, Wolves & Sheffield United. Winners
2003 Oxford, Farnborough & Sheffield United. Winners
2001 Carlisle, QPR & Blackburn. Finalists
1999 Preston, Wolves & Sheffield United. Semi-finalists
1998 Port Vale, Middlesbrough & Wolves Winners
1987 Reading, Plymouth & Barnsley. Sixth round
1983 Bolton, Leeds & Middlesbrough. Semi-finalists
1980 Cardiff, Watford & West Ham. Finalists
1978 Sheffield United, Walsall, Wrexham & Leyton Orient. Finalists
1972 Swindon, Reading & Leyton Orient. Finalists
1971 Yeovil, Portsmouth & Leicester. Winners
This is only the 16th time in 58 years that Arsenal will face three non-top division teams in a single FA Cup campaign, happening only eight times since 1999. On ten of the previous 15 occasions, the Gunners gone on to reach the final, hoisting the trophy aloft in six of them, including in 2015 and 2017.
Assuming they progress, for Gooners hoping for a favourable quarter-final clash, their team has only once met four non-Premier League teams in the same FA Cup season, this happening 48 years ago. Mansfield will complete their trio of opponents this year, but how long has it been since the pair met?
When did Arsenal last face Mansfield Town?
Next month's tie in Nottinghamshire will be only the second meeting between the two. The first also came in the FA Cup back in 1929, when goals from Harry Peel and David Jack secured a 2-0 victory at Highbury. So, where does this 97-year gap rank among all 228 clubs they've met in their illustrious history?
Arsenal's longest wait for a clash with the same club
Opponent Gap Year ended
Lincoln City 102 years 2017
Mansfield Town 97 years 2026
Millwall 79 years 1988
Brentford 71 years 2018
Port Vale 71 years 1998
Watford 70 years 1980
Oldham Athletic 66 years 1989
Stockport County 65 years 1980
Bristol City 56 years 1976
Notts County 52 years 1977
Plymouth Argyle 51 years 1983
To date, there have are only 11 opponents that Arsenal have had to wait half a century or longer between encounters. The most-recent edition to this list, prior to this upcoming tie, is Brentford, who the Gunners met in the League Cup in 2018, having not faced the Bees since 1947 beforehand.
The record-holders in this regard are Lincoln City, who they did not face between 1915 and 2017, before a quarter-final FA Cup tie at the Emirates produced a 5-0 victory for Arsène Wenger's team, en route to beating Manchester City and then Chelsea at Wembley.
That may just be a good omen ahead of Arteta's trip to Field Mill next month, aiming for his fourth FA Cup triumph, after doing so twice as a player and then as head coach in 2020. As already mentioned, the Gunners won their solitary previous meeting with Mansfield 2-0, and they'd settle for a repeat in March.