Mikel Arteta was in good spirits after watching Arsenal beat Mansfield 2-1 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, though the manager might have felt differently after a testing afternoon for a much-rotated squad.
Noni Madueke’s opener four minutes before the break, a fine left-foot finish from the edge of the box that found the top corner, looked like it might lay the foundations for a more comfortable victory. Instead, Mansfield responded immediately after the interval. Half-time substitute Will Evans pounced on a loose pass from Marli Salmon, drove forward and fired past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
On an unforgiving pitch, the Gunners laboured for long spells but eventually did enough, thanks in no small part to Eberechi Eze, who came off the bench to lash home the winner.
Max Dowman, back in the side after a lengthy lay-off, looked lively throughout. Injuries to Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard, however, are headaches the manager could do without.
“It was a proper FA Cup game,” the Spaniard told TNT Sports.
“Credit to Mansfield, the stadium, the atmosphere that the fans created, there was a bit of banter. A great atmosphere as well for them to keep pushing the team. And they made it really difficult for us.”
Arteta admitted his side lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.
“You have to be much more ruthless in front of goal than we were today, because we have four or five big open chances that we didn’t convert.
“So if that’s the case, then the margin becomes smaller. You give hope to the opposition. Obviously, we made a mistake on the goal as well that cost us the momentum, and [gave] the belief to them.
“But overall, I’m happy with the performance. We had two 16-year-olds in the starting lineup [Salmon and Dowman], I don’t know if it ever happened? I’m really proud of them.”
Progress to the next round means Arsenal remain in the hunt for four trophies. While the schedule is stretching his squad, it also means plenty of players are getting minutes.
“I think everybody feels involved. Obviously, we’re playing on four fronts.
“We have all the desire that game by game we can start to be a little bit closer to the things that we can achieve, that’s what we have to keep.”
Arsenal will find out their quarter-final opponents when the draw is made on Monday evening at 7pm.