Third-tier Mansfield Town pushed Premier League leaders Arsenal in an exciting, too-tight FA Cup tie away from North London.
Mikel Arteta’s much-changed Gunners took 19 of the game’s 37 shots and were level at one in the second half until Eberechi Eze’s thumped 66th-minute goal.
MORE — FA Cup schedule, scores, latest info
Teenagers Marli Salmon and Max Dowman started for Arsenal, who kept William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes out of the 18 along with suspended Declan Rice. Viktor Gyokeres was an unused sub and Bukayo Saka didn’t enter until the 77th minute.
Noni Madueke put Arsenal ahead before halftime but halftime sub Will Evans restored the deadlock in the 50th minute. Eze took a Christian Norgaard feed to deliver the winner.
Kepa Arrizabalaga made four saves, while Norgaard, Madueke, and teenager Max Dowman were among those who impressed for the Gunners. Nigel Clough’s League One hosts got strong midfield performances from Louis Reed and Jon Russell but couldn’t find a second goal.
Arsenal join Liverpool as quarterfinalists.
Arteta gives Arsenal injury update
Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori left the game with small injuries, while Mikel Arteta was asked about those and three other absences after the game.
On Trossard and Calafiori subbing out: “Both of them, they had little niggles. 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.”
On Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi being out of the 18: “Well, they had issues and they’ve been carrying issues. 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.”
Mansfield Town vs Arsenal final score: 1-2
Noni Madueke 41', Will Evans 50', Eberechi Eze 66'
Mikel Arteta reaction (video)
Full time — Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal
Just a terrific effort from the Stags against the Premier League leaders, nearly matching the Gunners’ 19 shots and producing almost two expected goals.
Eberechi Eze goal — Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal
Order restored.
Will Evans goal — Mansfield Town 1-1 Arsenal
Dream on, Stags!
Noni Madueke goal — Mansfield Town 0-1 Arsenal
Martinelli does well to hold play, and he dishes to Noni Madueke for a strike from about 18 yards!
1-0. Storm weathered?
The Stags find footing
Arsenal took the first three shots of the game but the hosts have settled into the game.
Mansfield Town have the next four attempts and Kepa Arrizabalaga registers a save to bail out Gabriel Martinelli after a poor clearance.
0-0,
Mansfield Town lineup
Roberts, Knoyle, Oshilaja, Black-Tracy, Akins, Abbott, Reeds, McLaughlin, Russell, T. Roberts, Oates
Arsenal lineup
Arrizabalaga, Salmon, Mosquera, Calafiori, Norgaard, Havertz, Trossard, Madueke, Dowman, Martinelli, Jesus
Mansfield Town vs Arsenal preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Third-tier Mansfield Town host quadruple-chasing Arsenal on Saturday in a mouthwatering FA Cup last 16 tie.
They are in the fifth round for the first time in 51 years, and the Stags couldn’t pull off an almighty shock, could they? Mansfield manager Nigel Clough simply said: “We are going to make it as uncomfortable as we can for them in every way.”
MORE — FA Cup schedule, scores, latest info
Clough (son of legendary manager Brian Clough) got Mansfield promoted from the fourth-tier two years ago and even though they’re on a tough run of nine games without a win in the third-tier the table is tight and the playoffs are still within reach if they win their games in-hand. Mansfield won at Premier League side Burnley in the last round and were rewarded with this brilliant home game against Premier League leaders Arsenal. They will keep it tight and hope Arsenal have an off day that they can take advantage of.
Arsenal won ugly at Brighton on Wednesday and with Manchester City slipping up, Mikel Arteta’s side now have a seven-point lead atop the Premier League table. City do have a game in-hand but in the last few days it really feels like everyone connected with Arsenal now believes they will finally win the title again. The quadruple is well and truly on too as they face Man City in the League Cup final in a few weeks and have been handed a very favorable draw in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. But it’s all about one step at a time and Arsenal will rotate but still go very strong with their team at Mansfield.
Mansfield Town team news, focus
There are a few key players Mansfield will want to get on the ball in attack as often as possible with Rhys Oates leading the line up top, while Will Evans and Louis Reed are also very important players to keep a close eye on. Former USMNT striker Dom Dwyer plays for Mansfield, often off the bench, and will be a familiar name to American soccer fans. Nigel Clough has Mansfield well set up defensively and they will do their best to hang in there for as long as possible and feed off the energy of the home crowd.
Arsenal team news, focus
There will be plenty of rotation from Arteta with the likes of Noni Madueke, Riccardo Calafiori, Christian Norgaard, Kepa, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all expected to start. The regular starters will be on the bench just in case but Arsenal should have enough quality on the pitch to get the job done with minimum fuss.
Mansfield Town vs Arsenal prediction
It’s going to be a proper FA Cup tie and Mansfield will hope to score early or hang in there until the final 30 minutes and stay within touching distance. Sadly, it seems that Arsenal have too much quality and their fringe players are desperate to prove they should start. Mansfield Town 0-4 Arsenal.
How to watch Mansfield Town vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:15am ET Saturday (March 7)
Venue: Field Mill, One Call Stadium — Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
TV Channel/Streaming: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes