Nigel Clough has admitted that his Mansfield Town side will concentrate on Arsenal‘s ability at set pieces as they aim for an unlikely FA Cup shock at the weekend.
The Stags have earnt their ticket to the FA Cup round of 16 by beating higher-level opposition, taking out both Sheffield United and Burnley in order to set up a tie against the Premier League leaders, who have been in imperious form across all competitions.
Corner Strategy Needed
A big part of Arsenal’s successes this season have come with their strength in dead-ball situations, with the Gunners now tied for the all-time Premier League record for goals scored from corners following their 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea.
That strength has seen them over the line in multiple games this season, and is something that Nigel Clough has acknowledged in his pre-match press conference ahead of the match at Field Mill. He said to BBC Radio Nottingham:
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“They have some exceptional players within that 25-man squad. We know roughly what the formation will be and we know that whichever Arsenal team is put out is going to be incredibly strong at set plays, especially corners.
“That was on view no more so than yesterday against Chelsea. So we can concentrate on those things, but in terms of the open play and what their individuals can do, it will be bit more difficult to prepare for that.”
With the Stags already taking down Premier League opposition in the form of Burnley and Port Vale also removing a higher-league team with their midweek win over Bristol City, there is a slight chance of a ‘cupset’, something which Clough did not rule out.
“It is possible. Shocks are possible. I think as much as you know, Port Vale are still in the competition, I think Macclesfield’s exploits this season have really reawoken everybody up to the possibilities of the FA Cup.
“Mansfield might not play Arsenal ever again, while we’re alive. So without thinking about it, everybody raises their game a little bit.”
Stags Out To Prove Themselves
With the FA Cup whittling down to its final stages, the number of lower league teams have reduced and along with Port Vale’s match against Sunderland later on in the weekend, this is the last shot these League One clubs have of causing an upset for the ages.
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As seen with Coventry City’s past successes, the EFL clubs can go out there and do some damage to these top teams, and even if the chances are slim, Mansfield Town do have a chance of causing the mother of all cupsets.
Going into this game with a defeatist attitude would have done no good, so for Nigel Clough to get the best out of his players he has given them the belief that they can overcome this Arsenal juggernaut.
Heavy squad rotation could swing this game slightly in Town’s favour with Arsenal fighting on all four fronts this season, but it is still a very difficult ask for the Stags to come out victorious.
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