Eberechi Eze staggers Mansfield as Arsenal survive FA Cup scare | FA Cup

The main stand of the world’s oldest professional football ground shook. It was time to ignite Mansfield Town’s dreams, a goal from substitute Will Evans early in the second half to hint at something extraordinary.

This should have been a mismatch. Quadruple chase Arsenal, the best team in England and Europe so far this season, against the team in 16th place in League One. It was anything but and now Evans had canceled Noni Madueke’s opener.

Mansfield fans were delirious; incredulous too. After all, Nigel Clough’s side can’t buy a league win right now. This was only the fifth time Mansfield had reached the fifth round of the FA Cup; the previous time was in 1975. They have only reached the quarter-finals once, in 1969. Was one of the greatest results in their history about to come true?

Arsenal ended the romance. They had an exceptional player on the pitch, 16-year-old midfielder Max Dowman – a celebration of dynamism and balance – and they had the answers.

The fact that Mikel Arteta had to turn to one of his big guns on the bench speaks volumes about Mansfield’s outstanding collective effort. He introduced Eberechi Eze, who was last season’s final hero in this competition for Crystal Palace. Minutes later, Eze fired a high shot into the Mansfield net from the edge of the box to break their hearts.

Mansfield fought until the end and there was a half-chance for substitute Oliver Irow in stoppage time. The header, however, lacked power and Arsenal were able to complete a difficult mission on a tricky pitch. Arteta wanted to maintain the club’s momentum; he didn’t want repercussions from an upset. He got his wish.

The Arsenal manager had been tossing around a lot after the midweek win at Brighton – as he always was going to do. What was surprising was his starting system. It was best slotted as 3-1-5-1 with Christian Nørgaard in front of a back three that featured 16-year-old debutant Marli Salmon on the right. Dowman, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard formed a fluid central midfield trio. “It was (dictated by) the players available,” Arteta said. “We trained him once. For 10 minutes.”

It didn’t work. When Trossard was sent off in the 38th minute, Arteta brought on Piero Hincapié and switched to 4-3-3. Almost immediately, Arsenal took the lead. Madueke saw a shot saved by Liam Roberts, but when he tried again from the edge of the area after Gabriel Martinelli had headed it back to him, the ball flew high past the goalkeeper.

Clough had promised his players would “make it as uncomfortable as possible” for Arsenal and he could be pleased with how they rose to the challenge. They didn’t show too much respect to Arteta’s team. They were physical and direct, but there was also a commitment to playing their football, to taking their chances. If there was a forward pass to play, they played it. If there was a shooting opportunity, they would shoot.

Rhys Oates was a strong presence up front while captain Louis Reed led by example in midfield. Reed extended Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 12th minute after Oates had rounded Cristhian Mosquera and, in the second phase, Oates saw an effort deflect past the post. Soon after, Tyler Roberts was just off target and there was also a moment in the 33rd minute when Oates beat Riccardo Calafiori to break through from a low ball. Arrizabalaga’s management was sound. Arsenal looked raw and vulnerable with three at the back.

Dowman was wonderfully pleasing to watch, his touch so true, those beautiful feints allowing him to gallop away from opponents – especially in tight spaces. In just his second career start, the 16-year-old posed a persistent threat. He missed an early one-on-one with Liam Roberts and fired another shot straight at the goalkeeper on the half hour after launching a smart counter.

Mansfield believed there was something to be gained for them and the equalizer came when Salmon left a back pass short for Mosquera and Evans intervened. He leapt into the inside left channel to slam a low finish past Arrizabalaga.

Arsenal didn’t stay down for long. Dowman almost restored his lead after a scintillating change of foot; once again, Liam Roberts saved his shot. Mansfield also had to thank Kyle Knoyle for a goal-line clearance to deny Gabriel Jesus after another explosion from Dowman.

Eze then replaced the ineffective Havertz and he would make the difference. Arteta sent on 18-year-old Jaden Dixon for his debut at right-back – he replaced Calafiori who, like Trossard, had a problem – and Arsenal had chances to score a third goal.

For Mansfield, there was pride but also regret. “We have this little nagging feeling in our stomach,” Clough said. “We had an opportunity today and we could have taken it.”