Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal: Eberechi Eze scores winner as Arsenal avoid scare at Mansfield Town

Eberechi Eze scored the winner as Arsenal were tested but overcame a spirited Mansfield Town to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The hosts, who are just five points above the relegation zone in League One, piled the pressure on the Premier League leaders before Noni Madueke put Arsenal ahead just before half-time.

Madueke had earlier forced Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Roberts into a save before the England winger curled the ball into the top corner after Gabriel Martinelli had sent it to the edge of the area.

But it was not the routine victory many expected and Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced into smart saves from Rhys Oates and Louis Reed, while Tyler Roberts fired a curling effort just wide in the first half.

Mansfield had 11 shots against Arsenal in the first half, the most the Gunners have faced in the first 45 minutes of a match in all competitions since April 2022.

Mikel Arteta had named two 16-year-olds in his squad, with Marli Salmon making her first start for the club and Max Dowman becoming the youngest player to start an FA Cup match for the Gunners at 16 years and 66 days old.

Dowman was excellent and saved two early chances before Madueke’s opener.

But the Gunners boss called on veteran players Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber from the substitutes’ bench as he looked to avoid a cup upset after Mansfield’s equalizer.

Salmon was involved in Mansfield’s goal when his attempted pass to Cristhian Mosquera was short and substitute Will Evans finished well past Arrizabalaga.

But Eze fired a high shot into the net in the 66th minute to ensure Arsenal progressed to the next round.

The victory maintains the possibility of Arsenal winning the quadruple and securing the Gunners’ place in the last eight of the competition for the first time since they won the trophy in Arteta’s first season in 2020.