Arsenal held off third-tier Mansfield 2-1 on Saturday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, keeping their bid for a historic quadruple on track.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta made nine changes to the side that beat Brighton 1-0 midweek, as Arsenal opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Noni Madueke put the 14-time FA Cup winners ahead shortly before half-time, only for substitute Will Evans to level soon after the break. The game opened up after that, with chances at both ends, before Eberechi Eze, also coming off the bench, smashed home to restore Arsenal’s lead in the 66th minute.
Arsenal also handed debuts to youngsters, with Max Dowman becoming the club’s youngest-ever FA Cup player at 16 years and 66 days, and 16-year-old Marli Salmon starting as Arteta rotated his squad.
While Arsenal dominated early possession, Mansfield, who had previously beaten Premier League side Burnley, came alive after 10 minutes, creating several chances. Rhys Oates was a constant threat, and Tyler Roberts tested the Gunners with a long-range shot that went narrowly wide.
Arsenal eventually broke through in the 41st minute. After Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Roberts saved Madueke’s initial effort, Gabriel Martinelli delivered the ball back to the winger, who curled a left-footed strike past Roberts. The goal also marked Arsenal as the first Premier League team to reach 100 goals in all competitions this season.
Mansfield responded immediately after the restart when Evans capitalised on a sloppy pass from Salmon, keeping his composure to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga and level the score.
Both sides traded chances in an entertaining middle period, but Eze, who had been on the pitch only briefly, fired home from the edge of the box to put Arsenal back in front.
Despite the opposition, Arsenal were never completely comfortable but managed to hold on and advance to the last eight.
Arteta’s FA Cup triumph in 2020 remains his only major trophy at the Emirates. The Spaniard’s side are now favourites for the Premier League title, seven points clear of Manchester City with eight games remaining and face Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, with a League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley scheduled for March 22.
AFP
