TWO England internationals of Nigerian heritage, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, spared Arsenal’s blushes by scoring the goals in the Gunners’ 2-1 win over lower league Mansfield in their FA Cup fifth-round clash today.
Eze netted the winning goal as the English Premier League leaders were tested but overcame a spirited Mansfield Town to move into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The hosts, who are just five points clear above the relegation zone in third-tier League One, heaped pressure on Arsenal before Madueke gave the Gunners the lead 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 teed him up at the edge of the box.
But this was not the routine win 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 side, with Marli Salmon making his 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 had two chances saved early on in the game before Madueke’s opener.
But the Gunners boss called on seasoned players Eze and Jurrien Timber from the substitutes bench as he looked to avoid a cup upset after Mansfield equalised.
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 thumped a shot high into the net in the 66th minute to ensure Arsenal progressed to the next round.
The win keeps alive the possibility of Arsenal winning the quadruple and secures 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.
With agency report
