Arsenal Edge Mansfield Town 2-1 As Eze Winner Keeps Quadruple Hopes Alive

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Arsenal stayed on track for a potential 2025-26 quadruple after edging Mansfield Town 2-1, securing a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Noni Madueke and substitute Eberechi Eze scored either side of Will Evans’ equaliser in a tense tie at One Call Stadium, with Eze striking the decisive goal in the 66th minute.

The visitors had to withstand heavy pressure from the League Two side, but Mikel Arteta’s team showed enough control in key moments. Arsenal, who managed the late stages with more composure, also reached 100 goals in all competitions this season, highlighting the attacking strength behind their ongoing trophy push.

After Mansfield dragged themselves level early in the second half, Arsenal’s squad depth decided the contest. Eze came off the bench and collected the ball on the edge of the area before driving a powerful shot beyond Liam Roberts. That strike restored Arsenal’s lead and proved enough, despite later chances for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus being repelled.

The match had swung sharply just after half-time when Mansfield capitalised on a rare Arsenal mistake. Marli Salmon misplaced a pass in midfield, and Evans reacted first, surging clear of Cristhian Mosquera. Evans then coolly finished under Kepa Arrizabalaga, giving the home crowd hope that an FA Cup upset might be on the cards.

The opening period brought clear opportunities at both ends, setting an open tone. Arsenal should have moved ahead in the fourth minute when Liam Roberts passed straight to Max Dowman. The 16-year-old’s low effort was blocked by Roberts’ leg, a key stop that lifted Mansfield, who soon threatened through Rhys Oates and Tyler Roberts.

Those missed chances proved costly for the hosts as Arsenal punished them before the interval. In the 41st minute, Madueke created space on the edge of the area and curled a precise effort into the top-right corner. That finish gave Arsenal a narrow half-time lead, though Mansfield’s energy suggested the tie was far from settled.

History was made in the starting line-up, with Arsenal fielding Max Dowman and Marli Salmon from kick-off. Through Dowman and Salmon, Arsenal are the first-ever Premier League side to start a game with two players aged 16 or under in any competition, and both were heavily involved in key moments at One Call Stadium.

Dowman, in particular, left a strong statistical mark on the contest despite missing that early chance. The forward recorded five shots, the joint-most for Arsenal, and had 13 touches inside the Mansfield box. Dowman also won seven duels, completed four dribbles, and created two chances, underlining why Arteta trusted the teenager in a high-pressure FA Cup setting.

Arsenal’s victory also carried a wider statistical landmark, as they became the first Premier League side this season to hit 100 goals in all competitions. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Bayern Munich, with 128, and Barcelona, with 110, have scored more, placing Arsenal among the most productive attacking teams of the 2025-26 campaign.

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Chance creation reflected the open nature of the tie, with both sides producing strong expected goals numbers. Mansfield registered 1.99 expected goals from 18 shots, showing how often they troubled Arsenal’s defence. Arteta’s team produced 2.73 expected goals from 19 attempts, and while the game was more end-to-end than Arsenal would have preferred, the Premier League side ultimately did enough to advance.