Arsenal: Kepa, Salmon, Mosquera, Calafiori, Norgaard, Havertz, Trossard, Madueke, Downman, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Setford, Hincapie, Saka, Eze, Timber, Gyokeres, Dixon, Harriman-Anous, Ibrahim

Arsenal secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Mansfield Town 2-1 at Field Mill on Saturday, thanks to goals from Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.

Mikel Arteta made nine changes from the side that beat Brighton on Wednesday, with Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Martinelli the only survivors as 16-year-old Hale Enders Max Dowman and Marli Salmon both started.

Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori also started after their injury absences, with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi left out of the matchday squad entirely.

FIRST HALF

Arsenal should have been ahead within the first five minutes after Mansfield goalkeeper Roberts passed the ball straight to Max Dowman but his shot was saved despite initially doing well to drive into the box.

But Mansfield came out with good energy and could’ve taken the lead themselves when Oates got the better of Mosquera who was easily outmuscled at the byline, before his cross was scrambled away and the follow up effort from Reed was well saved by Kepa.

There was another nervy moment for the Gunners when Roberts flashed an effort just wide with Kepa rooted, before Leandro Trossard blazed over after good work from Havertz and Dowman in close quarters to work the opportunity.

Dowman was at the centre of most good things for Arsenal and after he won the ball deep in his own third, Trossard was freed down the left and his cutback found the teenager who volleyed straight at Roberts.

With 35 minutes on the clock, Arteta was forced into a change when Trossard went down with an injury and was replaced by Piero Hincapie, moving Arsenal from a back three into a back four with the Ecuador international slotting in alongside Mosquera – pushing Salmon and Calafiori to more natural full backs.

Having huffed-and-puffed for most of the game, Arsenal eventually took the lead through Noni Madueke who curled beautifully into the top corner after Gabriel Martinelli set the ball back (after his initial shot was saved by Roberts). 0-1.

That strike was Arsenal’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions, with 19 different goalscorers. The side didn’t reach landmark until April 20th – away at Ipswich – last season.

Madueke had another chance before the break but volleyed wide from an awkward angle and that kind of summed up their quality in front of goal during the first half, apart from his well taken goal.

According to Opta, Mansfield had 11 shots in the first half – the most Arsenal have conceded in the first-half of any match this season (across all competitions). There was something refreshingly “bad” about this game with the hosts embracing their underdog status.

SECOND HALF

Mansfield made a change at half time with Will Evans replacing Roberts and the substitute scored a shock equaliser for the hosts – just five minutes into the second half.

It was a goal ladened with errors after Salmon undercooked a pass to Mosquera, although the Spaniard was far too hesitant and got bypassed too easily by Evans who advanced on goal and rifled a low effort past Kepa. 1-1.

Dowman showed his quality once again, dribbling through two challenges in the central area before gliding towards the edge of the box and firing towards the bottom corner but Roberts reacted well to push wide again.

With an hour on the clock, Arteta made his first changes with Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze replacing Kai Havertz and Salmon with the latter struggling slightly after the equaliser.

Arteta’s men had a golden chance to take the lead when they broke in a 5 vs 2 situation but after Madueke found Dowman, his cutback was directed goalwards by Jesus but a combination of Roberts in goal and Knoyle covering on the line kept the ball out.

But it was another substitute who found himself on the scoresheet, this time for Arsenal when Norgaard showed good feed to find Eze on the edge of the box, who cut inside two defenders and whacked a finish straight into the top corner. 1-2.

Arteta was then forced into more changes when Calafiori went down holding his groin, with January signing Jaden Dixon replacing him which pushed Timber out to left back. Bukayo Saka also came on to replace Dowman.

The closing stages were clunky and messy with neither side able to control the ball with much conviction but one header from Hewitt aside, Mansfield couldn’t create any clear cut opportunities.

With the game becoming increasingly stretched, Arsenal had some moments of their own but wasted most of their opportunities with Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus particularly guilty.

Eventually the Gunners got over the line and they’re into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2020 – great news for the club who are still competing on all four fronts.