The Arsenal face Mansfield Town, at Field Mill… which is widely recognised as the oldest ground in football. It’s stood since 1861, and I’m sure it’ll stand for many more years to come.
So, we play in the oldest cup competition, at the oldest stadium in football. It’s fitting. It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.
Mansfield Town are a League One side, but they’re NOT to be taken lightly… we’ve seen too many giant killings in the FA Cup, and it’s one of the reasons why I LOVE the FA Cup.
Let’s be professional, let’s get the win, and let’s progress to the next round.
The Stags are on the back of a 0-0 draw away to Rotherham, and The Gunners are on the back of a hard fought, 1-0 away win over Brighton.
Wholesale changes were made for this game, so most of the first team players were given some much needed rest.
Arteta surprised everyone with his 3-5-2 formation.
Calafiori, Mosquera, and the 16 year old, Marli Salmon… were the 3 centre-backs, with Martinelli, and Noni Madueke, both playing as wing-backs, to provide the width.
Trossard, Norgaard, and our other 16 year old… The Wonderkid… Max Dowman, were more central.
Kai Havertz played in front of them, just behind Gabriel Jesus… who played up front on his own.
It was quite the experimental starting line-up, and an even more experimental formation.
The Stags created a great atmosphere, and it had the feeling of a PROPER cup-tie. The sort of FA Cup match, where there was a whiff of a possible “Giant killing” in the air.
Max Dowman reacted quickest to a misplaced pass, by the Mansfield keeper… but unfortunately, he couldn’t quite get enough on his shot, and it was blocked.
Mansfield responded well, and it was clear that they’d been instructed to take the game to us, and not just sit back, waiting to be beaten… and that’s credit to their manager, Nigel Clough.
The Stags were thwarting our attacks, before they even began… due to how quickly they were closing down the space, and then they building attacks of their own. A smart stop from Kepa, prevented them from scoring opening goal.
Another couple of shots were put wide, and The Stags were letting The Gunners know, that they’re not in for an easy afternoon.
There’s that whiff of “Giant killing” in the air again. A pungent aroma, I must say.
We lacked cohesion, our passing was wayward… and some of the Arsenal players looked like strangers out there… which can sometimes happen, after so many changes, and a change in formation.
Take nothing away from The Stags though, because they’d been brilliant.
Trossard was withdrawn in the 38th minute, due to a suspected injury. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious, as our injury list seems to be piling up again.
Mikel Merino is a long term injury, as we know… but we’re still missing Odegaard, Saliba, and Ben White.
In the 41st minute, some nice play between Havertz, and Madueke, down the right… opened Mansfield up, and the move ended with a good Madueke shot, which the keeper saved. However, the loose ball broke to Martinelli, who squared the ball to Madueke, but this time… his shot gave the keeper no chance. A powerful, but controlled, left-foot finish. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
That’s how the first half finished too, 1-0 to us. It could’ve quite easily of been 1-1, or even 2-1 to Mansfield, because that’s how well they played in that first half.
I said it had the feel of a PROPER cup-tie, and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.
The second half had barely started… and it the 50th minute, Will Evans pounced on a misplaced pass from young Marli Salmon. Evans then ghosted past Mosquera, and slotted the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga, to make it 1-1.
Max Dowman was running at players, zig-zagging, and then having a shot on goal, or playing an excellent pass to a teammate. He was by far, the best player on the pitch.
He’s always calm under pressure, his balance is flawless… and he makes space for himself, when he has no right to. He’s an incredible talent, and I’m sooooooo glad he’s at The Arsenal, developing in the right way.
We started playing slightly better after conceding the goal, but we were still not in control of the game.
Arteta was hoping to change that in the 62nd minute, when he sent on Eze to replace Havertz, and Timber came on for Marli Salmon.
Havertz had an ok game, and it showed that he had only just returned from injury. He struggled to keep pace with the game in some periods.
Salmon had a steady game, and quickly recovered from his early mistake. He’ll learn from it, and use it in a way that builds character, and resilience… and increases defensive awareness.
It took Eze just 4 minutes to make an impact. With the clock showing 66 minutes played, the ball was laid off to Eze… and from just inside the box, he shifted it onto his right-foot, and hit a thunderous strike, that flew past the keeper… faster than the speed of light. I think I heard the net scream in absolute agony, as it struggled not to burst, from the shot’s ferocity. What a strike, what a goal, and what a way to take the lead in this cup-tie. 2-1 to The Arsenal!!
In the 76th minute, 19 year old Jaden Dixon, replaced Calafiori… who went off with a suspected hamstring injury.
Saka also came on to replace the irrepressible… Max Dowman, who had only just returned from injury himself.
We couldn’t add to our narrow 2-1 lead, but in the end, it was a win for The Arsenal. A Stag Night, if you will… as The Gunners hope to re-marry the cup competition, that they’ve won a record 14 times.
The draw for the quarter-finals has now been made, and the Gunners will face Southampton at St Mary’s.
We have a some Premier League games, some Champions League games, and the Carabao Cup Final, before the Southampton fixture.
Next up, we’re away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. A tough game, and an emotional one, for ex-Leverkusen players Kai Havertz… and more recently, Piero Hincapie.
We need to take a positive result back to The Emirates, and I’m sure we will.
Should Max Dowman be given more game time, even though he’s only 16?
We lost Trossard, and Calafiori, to injury in this game. Are the amount of injuries a concern that should be investigated by our medical team, or have we just been unlucky?
With the outside noise now louder than EVER… what should The Arsenal players do, to insulate themselves form it?
Let me know in the comments, as usual. COYG!!
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