• Mansfield Town will participate in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1975. If they reach the Quarter Finals, it will match their best ever performance in the competition.

• The Stags have already beaten Premier League and Championship opponents on their route to this stage, having beaten Sheffield United 3-4 and Burnley 1-2.

• Arsenal are still active in all four competitions they have participated in this season. In the FA Cup so far, they have faced lower league opposition in both the third and fourth rounds.

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📈 Mansfield v Arsenal Form & Stats

Despite being in the midst of their best FA Cup run for a generation, The Stags' league form is a concern. An impressive run of four wins on the spin, which straddled the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 are currently doing a lot of heavy lifting, as Mansfield were winless in six games before that winning streak, and have gone nine without a win since. The wins against Sheffield United and Burnley in the earlier rounds of this competition will live long in the memory, particularly Louis Reed’s three goals in the competition, all of which have come from outside the box, the winner at Burnley a sublime free kick which could have graced any competition.

Nigel Clough conceded in his press conference that it would be optimal for his side to be playing this game at a time when their league position was more secure, given they are only five points above the drop zone. As a Mansfield fan, and not to be a killjoy, but I am much more concerned with the home game against Reading on Tuesday night than the tie on Saturday afternoon. It will, of course, still be a fantastic occasion, hosting arguably the best team in Europe on home turf.

Arsenal have beaten Portsmouth and Wigan, both previous winners of this competition within the last twenty years, in the third and fourth rounds, scoring four goals on each occasion. The scheduling of this game, less than 72 hours after an away trip to Brighton, and ahead of a game in Leverkusen in the Champions League, should work in Mansfield’s favour, however such is the strength of Arsenal’s ‘second string’ and given how easily they have cruised through the FA Cup so far, it could be a chastening experience for The Stags.

📔 Mansfield v Arsenal Formation & Team News

The Stags are without club captain Ryan Sweeney and fellow first-choice centre back Baily Cargill for this one, with the latter ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a hamstring issue. Luke Bolton limped out of the midweek draw with Rotherham United. The return of Tyler Roberts has been positive, but his minutes are being managed cautiously.

I expect that Nigel Clough will revert to a 5-3-2 formation for this one, which tends to be the go-to when setting up conservatively. Deji Oshilaja and Frazer Blake-Tracy are shoe-ins at centre back. Louis Reed will operate from the base of midfield and look to dictate. Rhys Oates seems certain to start, his pace and direct running the most likely threat to The Gunners. Expect plenty of channel balls for him to chase.

The Arsenal IX is harder to predict, but even naming rotation players such as Gabriel Jesus, Ricardo Calafiori, and Noni Madueke is enough to evoke a feeling of fear. 16-year-old Max Dowman is another potential starter, billed to be a future star. The Stags' pitch could be a leveller, not in the best condition, but standing up better than recent seasons.

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