Go ahead and get the coffee pot prepped, folks. The Gunners kick off early on Saturday as they look to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals of England’s oldest cup competition when they travel to face League One side Mansfield Town FC.
It’s fair to say that Arsenal have been extremely fortunate in their cup draws this season, especially in the FA Cup. After seeing off League One side Wigan at home in the 4th round, they got the good fortune of drawing another club from England’s 3rd division for their first
5th round appearance in 6 years when they drew the Stags. On a weekend where several Premier League sides face one another, you take those.
Just as (if not more so) important than the opportunity is the timeliness of it. It’s no secret that Arsenal have been running on fumes lately. By the time the final whistle blew after their ugly-but-pivotal victory over Brighton on Wednesday, they were completely spent. Saturday is another chance to catch their breath ahead of a trip to Germany for a Champions League round of 16 tie and hopefully spread some minutes around.
However, as we have seen too many times before, anything is possible in a cup tie. Last year’s PL title winners Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle in the 4th round, while current title holders Crystal Palace lost to 6th tier Macclesfield this season. The cautionary tales abound, and you want to avoid becoming one if you can help it.
After several years of early exits, the Gunners have as favorable a shot as you could hope for to get one foot into the quarterfinals. Can the Gunners rotate, take care of business, and keep their momentum as a decisive March rolls on?
Here are three talking points ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup match:
Know the Enemy
Mansfield Town FC enter the match in 16th place in League One with 41 points from a record of 10W/11D/12L.
The Stags remain one of a handful of non-PL sides in the FA Cup thanks to their shock 4th round win over Burnley on Valentine’s Day. A late free kick at Turf Moor saw the visitors secure a win over the hosts for a little bit of the mythical FA Cup magic.
But outside of their cup win, things have hit a wall for Mansfield Town. In League One, they are in the midst of a 9 match winless run with their last win coming against bottom of the table Port Vale in mid January. A lack of goals have hampered their chances of climbing up the table, with only 6 scored in the league during their slump. Facing the best defense in the Premier League on Saturday, they will certainly have to hope for another odds-defying performance to make it past the Gunners.
They are stronger in the defense than in the attack, so it won’t be a surprise if they set up to frustrate Arsenal and keep them from having any clear chances. The Gunners will surely see more of the ball, but recent performances have shown a frustrating lack of consistent incisiveness in the final third.
None of the Stags’ players have ever played for Arsenal, though attacker Victor Adeboyejo was once a member of Arsenal’s youth academy over a decade ago.
Injuries & Suspensions
The Gunners did not add to their injured list against Brighton, but they are still without a few players who likely would/could have featured in Saturday’s match. Kai Havertz returned to action after another minor knock, but Martin Ødegaard and Ben White remained absent on Wednesday. If either are fit for Sunday, you’d imagine they would get a bit of run out.
OUT: Mikel Merino (foot)
DOUBT: Ben White (knock), Martin Ødegaard (knee)
Predicted Lineup
Attack: Martinelli, Jesus, Madueke
After a run of crucial league victories, the Gunners get another opportunity to rotate. Gabriel Martinelli started at Brighton and once again looked anonymous, but his cup form is undeniable. Gabriel Jesus hasn’t seen the pitch much lately, but he should be more than up to task on the weekend. Noni Madueke spells Bukayo Saka after Arsenal’s starboy notched his 300th match for the Gunners against Brighton, where his strike proved to be the difference.
Midfield: Lewis Skelly, Nørgaard, Eze
Could we maybe, possibly, finally see Myles Lewis-Skelly in the midfield? Considering the lack of options, I am going to remain optimistic that he gets his chance in the middle of the pitch. Christian Nørgaard has seen more time in the league in relief, so a start is more than earned. Eberechi Eze hasn’t lit up the net since the Spurs match, but with Martin Ødegaard almost back, I think he comes in once more at the 10.
Defense: Calafiori, Hincapie, Saliba, Mosquera
Arsenal’s defensive depth is a true blessing. After a dogged clean sheet performance against Brighton, the defense can field a rotated but still stout side. Riccardo Calafiori has returned to fitness, and a start on the left makes sense. Piero Hincapie has been massive in recent weeks and could slide in at centerback on the left for Gabriel. William Saliba was left out against Brighton, and he should slide back into his spot to lead the back line if he is good to go. Cristhian Mosquera spells Jurrien Timber to give the Dutchman a deserved break.
Keeper: Kepa
It’s been a minute since we’ve seen him, but Arsenal’s backup keeper has been stellar in cup ties this season, with a perfect record so far.
It would be easy to overlook this tie with how important the matches around it feel; it would also be pretty foolish. The schedule feels never-ending, but top teams want to win everything they possibly can. A win puts Arsenal into the quarterfinals and gets them another step closer to another chance to play for silverware. As tired as the players are, nothing will do more for their momentum and belief than another win.
WHO: Arsenal at Mansfield Town
WHAT: The FA Cup 6th round
WHEN: Saturday, March 7th, 7:15am EST/4:15am PST/12:15pm GMT
WHERE: One Call Stadium, Mansfield
HOW TO WATCH: Broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+
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