Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided updates on Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard after both suffered knocks in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield Town
Josh Holland and Tom Canton Arsenal reporter
16:18, 07 Mar 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta has provided an update on five players after Arsenal's win over Mansfield Town(Image: PA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on why Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard had to be substituted during Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup victory over Mansfield Town.
Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze netted for the Gunners, ensuring their progression to the quarter-finals. Trossard exited the pitch in the 38th minute, with Piero Hincapie stepping in as his replacement.
Later in the match, Calafiori made way for Jaden Dixon after appearing to sustain an injury. In the aftermath of the triumph against the League One team, Arteta offered a prompt update on their status: "Both of them, they had little niggles," he revealed.
Leandro Trossard
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Leandro Trossard was forced off in the first-half against Mansfield Town(Image: Getty Images)
"They were not comfortable to continue. And I knew that this could be a possibility, especially in the conditions that we're playing today. So we had to take them off."
The Gunners made several changes to the starting line-up that defeated Brighton, with Arteta opting to rest numerous players back in north London.
Gabriel, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice were all missing from the matchday squad, whilst young talents Marli Salmon, Max Dowman and Dixon were given a rare chance in the first team.
"Well, they had issues and they've been carrying issues," Arteta explained when questioned about the senior trio.
"And the amount of games that we are playing, it's obviously super demanding.
"And it was the only time to try to make sure that we can clean those issues that they're having to start the next sequence of two weeks before the break in the best possible way. And we had to make those decisions."
William Saliba was another individual absent from the victory in Mansfield on Saturday. The defender's absence from the 1-0 triumph at Brighton due to an ankle problem came as a surprise.
Arteta's squad will next compete on Wednesday evening against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, before welcoming Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. There is optimism that he will be fit for the European encounter in Germany.
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"He twisted his ankle against Chelsea," the Arsenal manager stated earlier in the week.
"He managed to complete the match somehow, but he was too sore to participate today."
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