Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners scrape past Stags

Arsenal scraped into the next stage of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win away to a resilient Mansfield Town.

As most expected, Mikel Arteta rotated heavily for the trip to Field Mill, offering chances to a number of players. Max Dowman was named in the lineup to become his side's youngest ever FA Cup player while Marli Salmon made his first start for the senior team.

The Gunners almost went ahead when Dowman was played in on goal, but a good touch from Liam Roberts and a clearance off the line denied him his first senior goal.

A mix-up at the back then allowed Mansfield a chance, but Kepa got down well to save a tame effort from the edge of the box before Gabriel Martinelli cleared the danger.

Arteta's side were surprisingly challenged by the hosts as they find it difficult to break through, but they finally found the opener minutes from half-time. Martinelli laid the ball off for Noni Madueke on the edge of the box for the winger to fire a great effort into the far corner.

That proved to be the decisive moment for the half as Arsenal went into the break a goal ahead.

It was a disaster start to the second-half for the Gunners as a loose back pass by Madueke played substitute Will Evans in on goal for him to get the better of Cristhian Mosquera and beat Kepa to level matters.

Things were starting to look bleak for Arsenal, but substitute Eberechi Eze restored their lead with a brilliant effort from the edge of the box just minutes after coming off the bench.

Mansfield looked to grab another shock leveller, but the visitors did well to hold off the League One barrage and secure their spot in the next round.

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their 2-1 FA Cup win at Mansfield.

Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal player ratings

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK) - 6/10 - Couldn't do enough to keep out the equaliser. Steady otherwise.

Marli Salmon (CB) - 6.5/10 - A relatively steady performance in his first senior start. Subbed off after an hour.

Cristhian Mosquera (CB) - 6.5/10 - Beaten quite easily by Evans for the equaliser. Relatively solid for the remainder.

Riccardo Calafiori (CB) - 6.5/10 - Picked up a yellow card in the second-half. An okay performance from the Italian. Taken off in the closing stages.

Midfielders

Noni Madueke (RM) - 6.5/10 - Put his side in front with a great effort from the edge of the box late in the first-half. Guilty of giving the ball away to allow Mansfield in for the equaliser.

Christian Nørgaard (CM) - 6.5/10 - Solid in the middle as he showed his worth as a backup option once again. Assisted Eze for the second.

Kai Havertz (CM) - 6/10 - Struggled to be too involved and was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

Gabriel Martinelli (LM) - 6.5/10 - Grabbed an assist for the opener when he laid the ball off for Madueke. Caused a few problems when he could.

Max Dowman (AM) - 7/10 - Had a shot cleared off the line in the early stages. Saw another effort kept out after the break. A real source of energy, but could have done better at times. Substituted in the late stages.

Leandro Trossard (AM) - 6/10 - Caused a few problems as he drifted in and out of the centre and out to the left. Forced off with an injury before half-time.

Forwards

Gabriel Jesus (ST) - 5.5/10 - Failed to offer too much up front and was a slightly absent figure in attack. Unfortunate for him not to regain some confidence in front of goal.

Substitutes

• Piero Hincapié (on 38' for Trossard) - 6.5/10
• Jurrien Timber (on 62' for Salmon) - 6.5/10
• Eberechi Eze (on 62' for Havertz) - 7/10
• Jaden Dixon (on 77' for Calafiori) - N/A
• Bukayo Saka (on 77' for Dowman) - N/A

Player of the match: Max Dowman