Arsenal Advance to FA Cup Quarter-Finals After Mansfield Scare

Arsenal secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over League One side Mansfield Town, but were made to work for the win at One Call Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Sky Sports reports that the Premier League leaders rotated their squad and even deployed a three-at-the-back formation, a tactical decision that initially unsettled the team.

Arteta’s Bold Lineup and Early Struggles

Mikel Arteta surprised many by naming a starting XI that included two 16-year-olds: Max Dowman and Marli Salmon. This marked the first time a Premier League team had started two players of that age in any competition. The Independent highlighted Dowman’s particularly bright performance, noting he became Arsenal’s youngest ever FA Cup player at 16 years and 66 days ancient.

Though, the change in formation to 3-4-3 initially proved problematic. Arsenal struggled to adapt, allowing Mansfield to dominate the early stages with eight shots on goal to Arsenal’s three in the first fifteen minutes. An injury to Leandro Trossard prompted Arteta to revert to a more familiar back four, which helped Arsenal regain control.

Madueke’s Opener and Mansfield’s Response

Noni Madueke opened the scoring for Arsenal just before halftime, capitalizing on the improved flow of the game. However, Mansfield responded quickly after the break. Substitute Will Evans equalized just five minutes into the second half, sending the home crowd into raptures. Football.London details the electric atmosphere created by the Mansfield supporters.

Eze Secures the Victory

With the game in the balance, Arteta turned to his bench, introducing Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. It was Eze who ultimately proved decisive, scoring a stunning goal to restore Arsenal’s lead in the 66th minute. Despite late pressure from Mansfield, Arsenal held on to secure the 2-1 victory.

Arteta and Clough Reflect on the Match

Mikel Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the match, praising Mansfield’s performance and the atmosphere at One Call Stadium. He also highlighted the significance of giving opportunities to young players like Dowman and Salmon. Arteta stated, “You have to be much more ruthless in front of goal…We also made a mistake for the goal. But we had two 16-year-olds in the starting line-up, I don’t think that’s ever happened.”

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough was proud of his team’s effort, stating they made it a “proper cup tie” and were unlucky not to force a draw. Will Evans, the Mansfield goalscorer, expressed his delight at making an impact off the bench.

Looking Ahead

Arsenal will now await the quarter-final draw on Monday night, continuing their pursuit of a potential quadruple. The victory came at a cost, however, with injuries to Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori. Arteta was questioned on their statuses post-match.