"We've been knocked out a few times in a difficult way and it's a terrible feeling. It feels like it damages your reputation. We don't want to go through that. I've been long enough in this country to understand that being favourite doesn't mean anything. When it comes to that competition, at that time of day, in that ground, I know they're going to have the belief and the conviction that they can beat us."
"Arsenal were beaten in the third round by Nottingham Forest, then of the Championship, in 2018 and again in 2022 and have progressed beyond the fourth round only once since 2017. Victory in the competition in 2020 during Arteta's first season in charge was the club's last trophy and the pressure is on to finally end a six-year wait for silverware."
"Mansfield have already knocked out top-flight opposition this season in Burnley while they also won away at Sheffield United. Should Nigel Clough's side spring another upset at One Call Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, Arteta fears there could be consequences for the rest of his team's campaign."
Arsenal face Mansfield Town in the FA Cup fifth round, with manager Mikel Arteta emphasizing the importance of avoiding an upset. Arsenal have struggled in the FA Cup recently, exiting to lower-league opposition multiple times since 2017, with their last trophy coming in 2020. Mansfield have already defeated top-flight teams Burnley and Sheffield United this season, demonstrating their capability. Arteta acknowledges that being favorites provides no guarantee and stresses the need for thorough preparation. Arsenal remain in contention for four trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League, making cup consistency crucial to their season.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]