London, 8 March 2026 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Eberechi Eze’s thumping strike saw Arsenal survive a scare at Mansfield as Mikel Arteta’s men reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win that keeps their quadruple hopes alive.

The Premier League leaders travelled to the team 16th in the third tier on Saturday as the sides met for the first time in 97 years and the Stags played in the fifth round for the first time since 1975.

Noni Madueke put much-changed Arsenal ahead late in the first half, but Nigel Clough’s Mansfield made life difficult and levelled when half-time introduction Will Evans capitalized on some shaky defending.

However, the spirited Stags’ memorable FA Cup journey and hopes of an almighty shock would be ended by the man who scored when Crystal Palace won the competition last season.

Eze found the top corner with a fierce effort shortly after his second-half introduction as the Gunners reached the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2020 – the only trophy of Arteta’s reign to date.

Photo: EPA