Eze spares Arsenal's cup blushes against Mansfield
A second-half winner from Eberechi Eze ensured Arsenal avoided an FA Cup upset as it defeated Mansfield Town 2-1 to progress into the quarter-finals of the competition.
After Will Evans cancelled out Noni Madueke's opener at One Call Stadium, Eze lashed in the winner after 66 minutes to keep the Gunners' hopes of winning the quadruple in 2025-2026 alive.
Arsenal should have taken the lead in the fourth minute when Liam Roberts played the ball straight to Max Dowman, but the teenager saw his shot kept out by the goalkeeper's leg, which seemed to wake Mansfield up.
Rhys Oates's attempt from the edge of the box went straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga before Tyler Roberts shot wide for the hosts, and they were made to rue those missed chances as Madueke curled into the top-right corner in the 41st minute.
However, Mansfield levelled just five minutes into the second half. Marli Salmon's misplaced pass was pounced upon by Evans, who raced past Cristhian Mosquera before slotting his shot underneath Kepa.
Nevertheless, the Gunners' depth proved to be the difference as second-half substitute Eze received the ball on the edge of the box and thundered his strike beyond the reach of Liam Roberts.
Mikel Arteta's side squandered opportunities to add to its lead as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus were denied, but the Premier League side managed to see the win through.
Eze said after the match: "Happy to score. I had the space and the opportunity to shoot. So I took it.
"It was a difficult environment to play in. But we did what we had to do, and we are through to next round, which is the important thing.
"We are working hard, and we are focusing on the process. Otherwise, we won't get there.
"We are working hard and doing everything we can to win all the silverware on offer."
Mansfield became the first side from the third tier of English league football or lower to score an FA Cup goal against Arsenal since Leyton Orient in the fifth round in 2010-2011.
Prior to this match, the Gunners had kept eight consecutive clean sheets against such opponents in the competition.
Will Evans, Mansfield's scorer, has been involved in five goals across his last nine FA Cup appearances – four goals, one assist.
"I wanted to prove a point today – not just to the team but to myself as well," he said.
"It's typical, isn't it? For me to have a league goal drought and then come on for a half against Arsenal and have a goal against them.
"Games come thick and fast. We are onto the next game. So you don't really have much time to take it all in.
"One day, I might just go through my old goals and enjoy them. But we got a shift again on Tuesday night [ Wednesday AEDT against Reading]."
