Arsenal survived a scare on Saturday afternoon to progress into the next round of the FA Cup, with League One Mansfield more than giving a good account of themselves on the day.
So often this season, teams have sat off the Premier League leaders, fearful of potentially being opened up, although Nigel Clough's men had no such concerns, racking up 18 shots in total - just one shy of the Gunners' own return.
In the end, however, the away side managed to get ahead through substitute Eberechi Eze, eventually seeing out proceedings to claim a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Mikel Arteta's men, to their credit, battled their way to yet another positive result, although this was an outing of real mixed fortunes, not least for the north London side's teenage starters.
A mixed day for Dowman and Salmon vs Mansfield
Let's start with the positives, with 16-year-old Max Dowman having lit up proceedings for those of an Arsenal persuasion, having undoubtedly been the star attraction in an attack-minded Gunners lineup.
While Eze and Noni Madueke may have got on the scoresheet, Dowman did everything but, impressively completing four of his attempted dribbles, the joint-most of any player on the pitch.
The England youth star looked a class above, even despite his youth, with his more senior colleagues arguably left looking a little red-faced after toiling in the Mansfield mud.
Max-Dowman-Arsenal-Mansfield
That being said, it wasn't all plain-sailing for Arteta's Hale End starlets, with fellow 16-year-old, Marli Salmon, enduring a difficult afternoon at right centre-back.
This is a player of real potential, although the trip to Mansfield provided a steep learning curve, with the teenage defender never quite looking comfortable up against a physical forward line.
Salmon-Mansfield-Arsenal
Salmon notably dived in recklessly in the build-up to an early chance for the hosts, while having also been culpable for Will Evans' equaliser, after producing an errant back pass.
Eventually replaced on the hour mark, Salmon - who lost the ball nine times from his 58 touches - looked his age, it must be said, albeit with this hopefully set to prove a positive step in his development regardless.
In his defence, too, he wasn't the only man in red to struggle against Clough's side.
Arsenal star looked like an academy player vs Mansfield
Much of the focus may be on the differing fortunes of Arsenal's two academy graduates, Dowman and Salmon, although rather than pointing the finger at the latter, there are more high-profile talents who deserve scrutiny.
Match stats - Mansfield vs Arsenal
Mansfield
34%
1
18
5
4
16
260
22
6
4
The forward line, not least Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, were all somewhat off the boil, yet more concerning for Arteta might have been Cristhian Mosquera's display at the back.
It's fair to say that the £13m Spaniard has been largely faultless since arriving from Valencia over the summer, although Saturday marked something of a step backwards.
Mosquera-Arsenal-Mansfield
While Salmon's woes could be put down to inexperience and youth, Mosquera's shoddy showing was far more headscratching, with the 21-year-old looking even more chaotic at centre-back.
In the first half, for instance, the typically elegant defender was bullied down that right flank amid early Mansfield pressure, marking one of four times he was dribbled past on the day.
For context, no player was dribbled past more than twice otherwise, highlighting just what an errant performance it was from Arsenal's William Saliba understudy.
In the absence of both Saliba and Gabriel, the Gunners looked all at sea at times, with Mosquera also needing to be held to account for his involvement in Mansfield's equaliser.
Mosquera-Mansfield-Arsenal
While Salmon may have played the pass short, it was the Spaniard who failed to engage with the advancing Evans, with the substitute allowed far too much freedom to rifle home.
On the ball, Mosquera's performance remained solid, having lost the ball just four times in 90 touches, while recording a 95% pass accuracy rate, although out of possession, he was certainly found wanting.
With bigger tests set to lie ahead, Arteta will be hoping this is merely a rare off-day, with Mosquera currently first in line to replace Saliba, should the Frenchman be struck down over the coming weeks.
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