Eberechi Eze scored the decisive goal as Arsenal were tested but defeated a feisty Mansfield Town to go to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The hosts, who are just five points above the relegation zone in League One, put pressure on the Premier League leaders before Noni Madueke put Arsenal ahead shortly before halftime.
Madueke had previously forced Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Roberts to save before the England winger curled the ball into the top corner after Gabriel Martinelli set him up on the outside of the area.
However, this was not the simple win that many predicted, and Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced to make great saves from Rhys Oates and Louis Reed, while Tyler Roberts curled a shot just wide in the first half.
Mansfield fired 11 shots at Arsenal in the first half, the most the Gunners have faced in the first 45 minutes of a match in any league since April 2022.
Mikel Arteta named two 16-year-olds to his squad, with Marli Salmon making his first start for the club and Max Dowman becoming the Gunners’ youngest player to start an FA Cup match at 16 years and 66 days old.
Dowman was great early in the game, saving two chances before Madueke scored.
However, the Gunners manager sent experienced players Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber off the bench to avert a cup upset after Mansfield equalized.
Salmon was involved in Mansfield’s goal when his attempted pass to Cristhian Mosquera fell short, and replacement Will Evans finished comfortably past Arrizabalaga.
However, Eze hit a high ball into the net in the 66th minute to send Arsenal through to the next round.
The victory keeps Arsenal’s chances of achieving the quadruple alive and guarantees the Gunners’ position in the competition’s last eight for the first time since they won the trophy in Arteta’s debut season in 2020.
