Mansfield v Arsenal stay: Will Evans equalises for League One hosts in electrical FA Cup tie
Premier League leaders Arsenal face League One side Mansfield Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup this afternoon, with both sides looking to book a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Gunners travel north looking to continue their hunt for a potential quadruple and they face the lowest-ranked side left in the competition as they take on Nigel Clough’s Mansfield.
The Stags got past another Premier League side in the last round though, beating struggling Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor to earn a chance to face the best team in the country.
And after Macclesfield’s remarkable third-round victory dumped holders Crystal Palace out of the cup, Mansfield will be dreaming of another famous ‘cupset’.
Follow live updates from Mansfield v Arsenal in the FA Cup below:
Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal
A debut for Arsenal for Jaden Dixon who was signed from Stoke. So, in a past era, was Lee Dixon, perhaps Arsenal’s greatest right-back. They probably aren’t related, though.
Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal
‘78: Oates collides with Mosquera near the backline and wants a penalty! It would perhaps be generous. The referee says corner kick.
Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal
‘77: Arsenal opt not to risk Calafiori, who is okay to get up and walk off the pitch.
More substitutes: he and Dowman come off, Saka and Dixon are on. A very good outing for Dowman.
Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal
‘75: Danger alert as Madueke sets off, but McLaughlin chases him down and drives him wide of goal, nullifying that particular attempt.
Eze is next into the book for dissent after conceding a free-kick. Calafiori is down with what looks like a hamstring problem, which the Mansfield supporters are loudly derisive of.
Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal
‘71: It’s been a tale of the super-subs so far: Evans took four minutes and seven seconds after coming on before scoring, while Eze took four minutes and 28.
Calafiori gets a booking for back-chat. Mansfield have the free-kick, Akins flicks it on – did it take a deflection off an Arsenal jersey?
The hosts have a corner. Good delivery by Lewis, but headed away by Norgaard… Mansfield recycle it but it comes a bit too quickly for Akins at the far post!
Into the box again… Lewis grapples with Timber and finally Kepa leaps up to save.
GOAL! Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal
‘66: The hosts have been brilliant but Eze produces a moment of quality now and there’s not much they can do about that. Norgaard rolls it to Eze, who cuts inside and whips it around his marker and the keeper into the roof of the net.
That quietens the ground somewhat.
SAVE! Mansfield 1-1 Arsenal
‘65: Arsenal have five on two in the Mansfield box, Dowman cuts it back for Jesus – the keeper is beaten but Knoyle gets right under the bar for a superb goal-line clearance!
It goes behind for an Arsenal corner, but it’s cleared and Mansfield counter… Evans pokes his toe out and gets there at full stretch but Kepa saves!
Baptism of fire for Marli Salmon
A difficult first start for Marli Salmon, who struggled against Rhys Oates in the first half and gave the ball away for Will Evans’ equaliser. Arteta will hope Jurrien Timber brings more reliability at right-back.
Mansfield 1-1 Arsenal
‘62: Drama… Reed goes into the book for a late challenge, but VAR are looking at a foul by Salmon on the edge of the box, pulling down Abbott.
VAR agrees with the referee’s decision, saying it took place on the edge of the area, so no penalty. But nervy times for Arsenal. Arteta looks apoplectic.
Time for changes: Salmon and Havertz are off, Timber and Eze are on. For the hosts, Abott comes off for Lewis.
Mansfield 1-1 Arsenal
‘59: It goes behind for a corner, but Calafiori nods Madueke’s delivery over the bar. He looks to complain that it took a deflection, but nothing doing.
Reed goes for a low, long-range effort rather than squaring to Akins but it doesn’t trouble Kepa too much, and Reed holds out an apologetic hand to his teammate.
