Well, that was a proper FA Cup tie. In the dirt and the mud away at Mansfield, Premier League leaders Arsenal battled their way to a 2-1 win over their League One opponents to continue their rampant charge on all four fronts.
The scoreline doesn't tell the full story, however, far from it, with the Gunners surviving something of a scare after super-sub Will Evans netted a deserved equaliser for the home side after the break, following Noni Madueke's first-half stunner.
Nigel Clough's men courageously swept forward at will, although in the end, the away side's superior quality just about told, as last season's Wembley hero, Eberechi Eze, rifled home off the bench.
Arsenal-FA-Cup-final-lineup-2020
The ex-Crystal Palace man may have been the matchwinner as the north Londoners - last winners back in 2020 - edged into the next round, although in truth, it was a day that belonged to one young man. Max Dowman.
Max Dowman - like Maradona in the Mansfield mud
Injury has curtailed his first-team involvement for much of this season, although if anyone needed a reminder of Dowman's unerring genius, then Saturday certainly provided it.
Arsenal-Mansfield-Max-Dowman
Still only 16, the teenage playmaker was largely head and shoulders above anyone else on the park, proving central to everything good about the Gunners on the day.
Much like watching old footage of the late great Diego Maradona in his pomp, the bobbly, mud-ridden turf couldn't keep Dowman contained, as the left-footer glided his way up the park at will.
In the first half, the Hale End graduate shook off a handful of early errant touches to swiftly grow into the game, notably coming close to converting after firing straight at opposition 'keeper, Liam Roberts.
In the second, meanwhile, Dowman was again denied by Roberts following a dazzling, weaving run from just inside the Mansfield half, successfully completing four of his six attempted dribbles, prior to his late withdrawal.
Dowman vs Mansfield
Stat
Minutes
Touches
Pass accuracy
Key passes
Total shots
Succ. dribbles
Ball lost
Ground duels
Fouls won
Big chances missed
Perhaps even more remarkably, the balletic midfielder also won seven of his 11 attempted ground duels, having so often had the physicality to fend off his man.
League One opposition it might have been, yet this was another indication of the diamond Arsenal have at their disposal. Some of his more senior teammates should take note...
Arsenal's senior stars outshone by Dowman magic
Such is the strength in depth at Mikel Arteta's disposal, there is no such thing as a weakened side, with even a raft of changes allowing the Spaniard to unleash what looked like, on paper at least, a fluid, dynamic forward line.
Arsenal-Gyokeres-Havertz Related
Arteta could bench Gyokeres & Havertz to unleash Arsenal's own Ekitike
Mikel Arteta could shuffle his pack in an attacking sense on Saturday afternoon.
While the aforementioned Madueke, operating on the right flank in place of Bukayo Saka, was a constant threat in tandem with Dowman, the other starting quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus proved far less effective.
Indeed, Jesus was particularly disappointing as the Gunners' central striker, failing again to take his chance, following Viktor Gyokeres' own wayward display in midweek.
The Swede's midweek horror-show at the Amex might have afforded Jesus the opportunity to stake his claim for a more regular starting role, although the £45m signing was distinctly off the pace, left looking rather embarrassed by the brilliance of young Dowman behind him.
The teenager was all precision and poise, yet nothing seemed to come off for the experienced Brazilian, far too often squandering possession with needless flicks and tricks in the first half.
Gabriel-Jesus-Arsenal-Mansfield
In all, the 29-year-old lost the ball 11 times from his 37 touches, having struggled to get to grips with the bouncing ball, offering little in the way of a focal point for the Gunners to build off.
The contrast to Dowman was also seen in how Jesus recorded just a 70% pass rate and failed to register a single key pass, with the youngster, by comparison, recording an 81% pass rate, while providing two key passes.
Indeed, Jesus' brief resurgence over the festive period now appears like a distant memory, and with Havertz now working his way back up to fitness, it will most likely be the German and Gyokeres vying for that number nine berth moving forward.
With 18-year-old striker, Andre Harriman-Annous also in the mix, having been an unused substitute on Saturday, Arteta can happily allow Jesus to slide down the pecking order, with the ex-Manchester City man surely in last-chance saloon territory.
Gabriel-Jesus-Arsenal
If he can't cut it against third-tier opponents - with Dowman's display showing the pitch can be no excuse - then it's difficult to see why Jesus should be handed a start again this season.
stephen-warnock-arsenal-fa-cup Related
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He was 'incredible' against the EFL minnows.