Arsenal avoided an FA Cup shock and booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town. Eberechi Eze came off the bench and smashed home the winner, keeping Mikel Arteta’s hopes of a quadruple alive. It also marked Arsenal’s first trip to the last eight since their 2020 triumph.
One Call Stadium delivered the full cup feel. Mansfield, sitting 59 places below Arsenal in the English pyramid, matched the visitors for effort and made it uncomfortable all night. Arteta made big changes, switched to a back three, and handed starts to two 16-year-old academy players, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon. Both became the club’s youngest players to appear in a major cup tie of this size.
Even with the gap in quality, Mansfield’s pressing and shape slowed Arsenal down for long spells. In the end, Arsenal got through thanks to two moments of top-class finishing, first from Noni Madueke, then from Eze.
Watch Match Highlights
- 41′ – Arsenal strike first: Noni Madueke hit a brilliant first-time curler into the top corner from the edge of the area. Gabriel Martinelli set it up after his first effort forced a save from Mansfield keeper Liam Roberts. The goal also brought up Arsenal’s 100th of the season in all competitions.
- 50′ – Mansfield hit back: Will Evans, on as a substitute, punished a loose pass from Marli Salmon. He got past Cristhian Mosquera and finished low beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga, lifting the home crowd.
- 66′ – Eze seals it: Eberechi Eze, also introduced after the break, drilled a long-range rocket into the top corner. Christian Norgaard provided the assist, and Roberts had no chance.
After halftime, Arsenal had to work for it. Mansfield threatened on the break and kept pushing, so the visitors couldn’t relax. Arteta later spoke about the “beauty and difficulty” of the FA Cup, and he pointed to Mansfield’s performance and the energy from the 9,260 fans inside the ground.
With the win, Arsenal stayed in the hunt for trophies on four fronts: the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal Player Ratings and Key Stats
| Player | Position | Key Contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kepa Arrizabalaga | Goalkeeper | Calm on the ball, made one key stop | 7 |
| Max Dowman | Defender | Standout debut, made history at 16 | 8 |
| Cristhian Mosquera | Defender | Stayed composed under pressure | 7 |
| Marli Salmon | Defender | Showed courage, mistake led to an equalizer | 6 |
| Noni Madueke | Winger | Scored a superb opener, looked sharp all game | 8 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Forward | Set up the first goal, brought constant energy | 7 |
| Leandro Trossard | Midfielder | Came off early with an injury | 6 |
| Christian Norgaard | Midfielder | Assisted the winner, kept things steady | 7 |
| Eberechi Eze | Substitute | Match-winning strike from the bench | 9 |
| Bukayo Saka | Substitute | Added danger late and helped close it out | 7 |
Arsenal saw more of the ball, but Mansfield’s pressure stopped them from building a smooth rhythm. The Gunners managed more passes and more shots on target, yet the hosts turned it into a real cup scrap.
Mansfield Town Player Ratings and Key Stats
| Player | Position | Key Contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liam Roberts | Goalkeeper | Strong saves, including one to deny Dowman | 8 |
| Stephen McLaughlin | Midfielder | Worked hard and competed in the middle | 7 |
| Will Evans | Substitute | Scored soon after coming on | 8 |
| Defense Unit | Various | Stuck to the plan, stayed organized | 7.5 |
| Team Overall | – | Big effort, pushed Arsenal close. | – |
Mansfield earned respect from both sides for their approach and belief. Their equalizer, caused by a defensive error, also showed how dangerous they looked when they broke forward quickly.
Post-Match Reaction
Arteta summed up the challenge: “We had to earn it today. Mansfield were exceptional in their energy and atmosphere. Max Dowman was exceptional, proud of the young players.” He also stressed the need to stick together after conceding.
Next, Arsenal will wait for Monday’s quarter-final draw as they try to keep their FA Cup run going.
This match showed Arsenal’s depth, even with heavy rotation and teenagers in the lineup. For Mansfield, the journey ended with pride, and the performance reminded everyone why the FA Cup still delivers nights like this.
