Deji Oshilaja has praised the atmosphere Mansfield Town fans deliver at the One Call Stadium and hopes to use that energy against Arsenal on Saturday.
Stags supporters will watch Premier League giants Arsenal descend on their soil this weekend in the highly anticipated fifth round FA Cup clash. Oshilaja is hoping the home crowd will bring the noise as they dare to dream of another giant-slaying performance.
“For the club and the town, it’s massive. Arsenal are not going to be used to the pitch and the playing conditions so it’s going to be a bit tough for them but it’ll be tough for us as well. But it’s going to be a great occasion, I’m sure there’s going to be a sell-out here as well, so our fans can get on top of them. When our fans are at it, they’re incredible. So we will go out there and try to feed off the crowd as well and give them something to be proud of.
“There’s definitely that excitement and rightly so, to get a club like Arsenal to come to the One Call. I’m not sure how many other Premier League clubs have come up here before so there’s going to be massive excitement. I think everyone, fans and players, should enjoy it. I think we should go out there and have a great time. It’s a great time for the club but we are going to want to win the game as well.”
Deji Oshilaja during the Sky Bet League 1 match against AFC Wimbledon at the One Call Stadium, 28 Feb 2026, Photo credit Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Pictureplaceholder image
Deji Oshilaja during the Sky Bet League 1 match against AFC Wimbledon at the One Call Stadium, 28 Feb 2026, Photo credit Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture
Knowing they have nothing to lose against the current Premier League leaders and 14-time FA Cup champions, Mansfield Town are prepared to throw everything at this blockbuster fixture in hopes of clinching another sensational upset. Stags clinched their superb 2-1 win over Burnley in the previous round thanks to goals from Rhys Oates and Louis Reed.
“You always want to test yourself against the best and opportunities like this don’t come around often so when they do come, you’ve got to take them and enjoy them as well,” Oshilaja continued. “We’re going to go out there full of confidence and give the best account of ourselves. We’ve got players that can really hurt them.”
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