Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal Player Ratings: Gunners Survive FA Cup Scare With A Narrow Win Against A Valiant Mansfield Town Side

The FA Cup this season has been delivering consistently in terms of excitement and drama. Arsenal travelled to the One Call Stadium expecting a routine win, but a spirited Mansfield Town had other ideas, pushing the Premier League giants to their absolute limit in a nail-biting encounter.

The atmosphere was electric, and the underdogs played out of their skins. Arsenal drew first blood through a sharp finish from Noni Madueke before halftime. But Mansfield came roaring back, levelling the score early in the second half through Will Evans, making it a real contest.

It took a goal from the substitute Eberechi Eze in the 96th minute to eventually decide the match 2-1 in Arsenal's favour. This was anything but straightforward for the Gunners.

They looked rattled at times, struggling to cope with the intensity of the home side. Ultimately, their quality showed, but they left the pitch knowing they had been in a real battle.

Here are the Mansfield Town vs Arsenal Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Although Arsenal had more possession (67%), both teams were quite close in terms of shots taken, which shows that Mansfield didn't give up easily.
• Jon Russel of Mansfield Town won the most duels (11).
• Stephen McLaughlin recorded the most key passes in this game (5).

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Mansfield Town

Have a look at the Arsenal Player Ratings from the Mansfield Town vs Arsenal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 7.0: A pretty solid showing from the man between the sticks. He made three crucial saves inside the box, including one big one in the second half to keep his team in it. What stood out to us was his command of the area, with two good high claims to relieve pressure. His distribution was also very tidy.

Defenders

Cristhian Mosquera - 6.5: A quiet but effective game for the defender. He was incredibly neat in possession, completing 97% of his passes, which is just immense under pressure. We noticed he made six clearances and was strong in the tackle, winning both of his attempts. He was caught out a couple of times but recovered well.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.0: A mixed bag of a performance, really. He picked up a yellow card and looked a little rash at times, which isn't ideal. He did show flashes of quality going forward and made a few important clearances, but he also lost the ball in dangerous areas. He was subbed off late, looking tired.

Marli Salmon - 4.5: Oh dear. It’s never easy for a defender when you make a mistake that leads to a goal, and that moment really defined his game. Before that, he wasn't exactly comfortable, losing possession nine times. It was a tough watch, and a performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Midfielders

Gabriel Martinelli - 7.0: He provided the assist for the opening goal with a moment of real quality. His passing was generally crisp, and he looked to make things happen with a couple of key passes. From our perspective, he worked hard defensively too, tracking back and winning a tackle. A decent outing.

Christian Nørgaard - 7.5: A really classy performance in the heart of midfield. He was everywhere. He controlled the tempo with his passing and created four chances for his teammates, including an assist. He was also combative, winning five of his eight duels. A very complete display.

Noni Madueke - 8.5: The clear man of the match for us. He was a constant threat, and took his goal with the confidence of a top player. He had four shots, created a big chance, and was always looking to take on his man. His energy and directness were exactly what Arsenal needed. An electrifying performance.

Max Dowman - 7.0: What a livewire. He was incredibly unlucky not to score, with three shots on target forcing good saves. We were impressed by his dribbling, completing four runs and always driving at the defense. He was a real handful before being substituted late on.

Leandro Trossard - 6.0: His afternoon was cut short by a frustrating injury. In his 38 minutes on the pitch, he looked bright and created a big chance for a teammate. It was a real shame to see him go off, as he was just starting to influence the game.

Forwards

Gabriel Jesus - 6.0: A frustrating day at the office for the Brazilian striker. He worked hard and won his share of aerial duels, but the ball just wouldn't fall for him. He missed a big chance that you'd expect him to bury and was caught offside once. You can't fault his effort, but the end product was missing.

Kai Havertz - 6.5: He linked play well and drew a couple of fouls, but he struggled to impose himself on the game in the final third. He was tidy on the ball but didn't offer much of a goal threat before being taken off just after the hour mark. An okay, but unremarkable, performance.

Substitutes

Eberechi Eze - 7.5: Came on and changed the game, scoring the winning goal with a composed finish. A match-winning impact.

Jurriën Timber - 6.5: Shored things up at the back after replacing the struggling Salmon.

Piero Hincapié - 6.0: Replaced the injured Trossard and did a steady job.

Bukayo Saka - N/A: Came on late with not enough time to make a significant impact.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.0: His team got the win, which is all that matters in a cup tie. However, he'll be concerned by how much his side struggled. His substitutions proved decisive, especially the introduction of the eventual goalscorer, Eze. Job done, but barely.

Mansfield Town Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Have a look at the Mansfield Town Player Ratings from the Mansfield Town vs Arsenal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Liam Roberts - 7.0: He can hold his head high. Roberts made five saves, four of which were from shots inside the box, and kept his side in the game for long periods. He was let down by his defense for the goals, but put in a commendable performance against top opposition.

Defenders

Kyle Knoyle - 7.0: A heroic performance. Made a goal-line clearance that was simply sensational. He was solid defensively, blocking two shots and putting his body on the line for the team. A true fighter's display.

F. Blake-Tracy - 6.5: A very busy afternoon for the defender. He made six crucial clearances and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. He was dribbled past once but generally held his own against a tricky Arsenal frontline. Solid effort.

A. Oshilaja - 6.0: A decent showing. He was strong in his duels and recovered the ball five times. However, his passing was a bit loose at times, and he was caught out of position for the first goal. A battling, if imperfect, game.

Midfielders

S. McLaughlin - 6.5: He provided a real creative spark, delivering five key passes. His crossing was a constant threat. He was a bit overzealous at times, committing four fouls and picking up a yellow card, but his attacking intent was vital for his team.

Lucas Akins - 6.5: The enforcer in midfield. He won an impressive six of his nine duels and was a disruptive presence throughout. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles but played his role perfectly, breaking up play and frustrating Arsenal's creators.

J. Russell - 7.5: Our pick for Mansfield's best player. He was absolutely immense in the midfield battle. He made an incredible eight tackles, recovered the ball six times, and was neat in possession. A complete midfield performance that deserved more.

L. Reed - 6.0: The captain led by example with his work rate, but it was a difficult game for him. He was often overrun in midfield and committed four fouls, earning a booking. He battled hard but struggled to make a positive impact on the ball.

George Abbott - 6.0: Looked lively during his time on the pitch, making a few key interceptions and tackles. He was energetic but couldn't quite find the final ball before being substituted.

Forwards

R. Oates - 7.0: A real thorn in Arsenal's side. He was direct and dangerous, completing four dribbles and getting three shots away. His pace and movement caused all sorts of problems for the Arsenal backline. A tireless and threatening performance.

Tyler Roberts - 6.0: He was a handful in the first half, taking five shots, though none found the target. He worked hard to create space and occupy defenders but was subbed off at halftime. A promising but ultimately fruitless display.

Substitutes

Will Evans - 7.5: What an impact. Came on at halftime and scored the equalizer with a brilliant finish. He was a constant threat.

Aaron Lewis - 6.5: Added energy and almost got on the scoresheet with a header.

Victor Adeboyejo - N/A: Little time to make a mark.

Oliver Irow - N/A: Came on late in the game.

Manager

N. Clough - 7.5: He should be incredibly proud of his team. He set them up perfectly to frustrate a top-tier opponent, and they came so close to pulling off a huge upset. His tactical plan was spot on, and his players gave everything for him. Unlucky to be on the losing side.

Man of the Match

Noni Madueke was adjudged the man of the match from this FA Cup tie.

Worst Performer

Marli Salmon was the worst performer in the Mansfield Town vs Arsenal game.