Arsenal at Mansfield Town FA Cup: don’t trip

Mansfield, England — Three hours up the M1 stands One Call Stadium, where League One’s 16th-placed Mansfield Town will welcome Arsenal for only the second time in 97 years of mutual history. The prize is a place in the FA Cup quarter-final, and while the Premier League giants arrive as heavy favourites, Mikel Arteta’s warning has been explicit: “Being favourites doesn’t count for anything — you still have to play the match.”

The Gunners, still chasing a first trophy since their 2020 FA Cup triumph, have rotated heavily. David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi were all left in London to recuperate, while Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard and Ben White remain injured. In their stead, Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal, 17-year-old midfielder Max Dowman earns a maiden start and Marli Salmon is handed a rare appearance on the flank. A back-three of Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori and Omar Mosquera will shield the Spaniard, with Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus charged with unlocking the Stags’ defence.

Mansfield, the second-lowest side left in the competition, have already scalped recent Premier League opposition: a third-round upset of Sheffield United preceded a fourth-round shock against Burnley. Yet Nigel Clough’s men are winless in nine league outings since a January victory over basement club Port Vale, and sit just eight places above the bottom of League One. Today’s noon kick-off under the One Call floodlights represents the biggest stage most of their squad have ever occupied.

Arteta has shifted shape to a 3-4-3, trusting experience in the middle through Christian Norgaard and Trossard while entrusting youth on the wings. The hosts counter with skipper Aden Flint anchoring a back five, top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn on the bench, and the industrious duo of George Maris and Lucas Akins expected to crowd the midfield battle.

Logic says Arsenal’s depth prevails; history says the FA Cup delights in defying logic. The Gunners cannot afford a slip if their quadruple chase is to stay alive. Mansfield, roared on by a sell-out crowd, need only believe the fairytale can continue.

Kick-off: Saturday, March 7, 12:15 pm GMT. Broadcast on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+.