"It is a bit of an FA Cup cliche but the fact Eze was called upon by Mikel Arteta was a compliment to the League One team. But as close as this contest was, it was another demonstration of Arsenal's strength in depth and their strength throughout the age range."
"It was certainly a bold move from Arteta to field two 16-year-olds, the first time a Premier League manager has done that in any competition. And the boldness should have been rewarded in the early stages when Dowman accepted a loose offering from Mansfield keeper Liam Roberts but failed to convert very decent opportunity."
"A pimpled League One pitch is no place for drag-backs and flicks, as Dowman and Salmon soon discovered. But before Salmon made an error ahead of Will Evans' second half equaliser, the pair were excellent."
Arsenal's 2-1 victory over League One side Mansfield Town showcased the Premier League leaders' strength in depth and youth development. Eberechi Eze scored the match-winning goal, his eighth of the season, while Noni Madueke added the second. Manager Mikel Arteta made a bold tactical decision by fielding two 16-year-olds, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, marking the first time a Premier League manager has done so in any competition. Despite Mansfield's spirited performance and Will Evans equalizing in the second half, Arsenal's superior quality ultimately prevailed. The young players showed promise, though they struggled initially with the pitch conditions and opposition's physical approach before adapting well.
Read at Daily Mirror
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