Eze shines, Arsenal defeats Mansfield to reach FA Cup quarter-finals

The away trip to Mansfield Town proved more challenging than anticipated for Arsenal, as the lower-tier team played with great determination, forcing the Gunners to exert themselves until the final moments to secure a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The away trip to Mansfield Town in the FA Cup fifth round presented more difficulties than expected for Arsenal. Manager Mikel Arteta made up to nine changes to the lineup compared to the previous match, giving opportunities to several young players, including two 16-year-old talents, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon.

Early in the match, Dowman nearly opened the scoring by capitalizing on a mistake by goalkeeper Liam Roberts, but the young player's shot could not beat the keeper from Mansfield.

The home team started confidently despite playing in League One. Mansfield created several dangerous opportunities in the first half with shots from Louis Reed, Tyler Roberts, and Rhys Oates, forcing goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to work continuously. However, after overcoming the initial pressure, Arsenal gradually regained control of the match and began to create sharp attacking plays.

In the 41st minute, the visitors scored the opening goal. Gabriel Martinelli skillfully handled the ball before passing it back to Noni Madueke from about 15 meters away. The English midfielder unleashed a quick left-footed shot, sending the ball straight into the top corner of the goal, allowing Arsenal to take a 1-0 lead. This goal also marked the 100th goal scored by the London club across all competitions this season.

Moving into the second half, Mansfield quickly brought the match back to a balanced state. In the 50th minute, a mistake in a passing sequence by Arsenal's defense allowed Will Evans to intercept the ball and finish accurately inside the penalty area, defeating Arrizabalaga to equalize 1-1. This goal ignited the stadium as the home fans began to believe in a potential upset.

In response to that situation, Arteta decided to introduce Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber onto the field to enhance the attacking power. The adjustment quickly proved effective. In the 66th minute, Eze received the ball outside the penalty area, cleverly turned to evade his marker before unleashing a powerful shot that drilled straight into the corner of the net, increasing the score to 2-1 for Arsenal.

In the final minutes of the match, Arsenal continued to have opportunities to widen the gap. Bukayo Saka, introduced late in the game, made a burst of speed and delivered a dangerous shot inside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Roberts managed to block it. Nevertheless, the Gunners maintained their advantage until the final whistle sounded.

This victory allows Arsenal to secure a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, continuing their journey towards a quadruple in the 2025/26 season.

Where to watch Mansfield vs Arsenal live?

Time: 19:15 on March 7.

Location: Field Mill Stadium

Competition: FA Cup fifth round.

Squad Information Mansfield vs Arsenal

• Mansfield:Full strongest squad available.
• Arsenal:Absent: Ben White, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, Max Dowman, Mikel Merino.

Expected Lineup Mansfield vs Arsenal

• Mansfield (3-4-2-1):Roberts; Knoyle, Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, Akins, Reed, Lewis, McLaughlin, Russell, Evans; Oates.
• Arsenal (4-2-3-1):Arrizabalaga; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Eze, Madueke, Saka, Martinelli; Jesus.

Form & Head-to-History Mansfield vs Arsenal

• Mansfield's Form:In the last 5 matches, Mansfield has won 1, drawn 1, and lost 3.
• Arsenal's Form:In the last 5 matches, Arsenal has won 3, drawn 2, and lost 0.
• Head-to-History:The two teams have never met before.