Martin Keown Reveals Major Arsenal Concern Following FA Cup Victory Over Mansfield
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has voiced significant fears that the Gunners' FA Cup fifth-round win against Mansfield Town could come at a substantial cost. Mikel Arteta's side was pushed to the limit by their League One opponents in a tense match that raised alarms about player fitness and squad depth.
A Hard-Fought Victory with Hidden Consequences
Arsenal made nine changes to their starting lineup after a recent Premier League victory at Brighton, which extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points. However, the makeshift team struggled on the boggy pitch at One Call Stadium, failing to adapt to a new formation effectively. It took until just before halftime for Noni Madueke to break the deadlock, but rather than easing to a routine win, Arsenal faced continued pressure.
Just five minutes after the restart, Mansfield's Will Evans capitalized on a defensive error by Marli Salmon, racing past Cristhian Mosquera to equalize. With the tie hanging in the balance, Arteta made strategic substitutions that ultimately paid off when Eberechi Eze scored from the edge of the penalty area. Arsenal managed to see out the remaining time relatively comfortably, but the physical and emotional toll was evident.
Injury Setbacks and Keown's Cautious Outlook
The victory was marred by injury concerns, as Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard failed to complete the full 90 minutes, leaving Arteta likely without them for upcoming matches. This development particularly worried Keown, who refrained from predicting trophy hauls for Arsenal this season, instead focusing on the potential damage from these setbacks.
Keown emphasized the precarious nature of competing in four tournaments, noting, "They're in four competitions and they nearly went out today—it was that close. Mansfield gave them a real scare. It's just game to game, and it's been expensive with the injuries, so the manager will have to lick their wounds a bit." He avoided sounding arrogant about Arsenal's prospects, highlighting the need for a cautious, match-by-match approach.
Arteta's Praise for Mansfield and Youth Integration
Mikel Arteta was quick to praise Mansfield's performance, acknowledging the challenges posed by Nigel Clough's side, which registered 18 attempts on goal. He described it as "a proper FA Cup game," crediting the stadium atmosphere and fan banter. Arteta admitted, "They made it really difficult for us. If not, you have to be more ruthless in front of goal than we were today. The margin becomes smaller, and you give hope to the opposition."
Despite the struggles, Arteta expressed pride in fielding two 16-year-olds in the starting lineup, a historic move for the club. He highlighted the team's collective involvement and desire to achieve their goals incrementally, stating, "I think everyone feels involved. We have the desire that, game by game, we can get closer to the things that we can achieve."
Looking Ahead to Tougher Tests
Arsenal now faces a different challenge with an upcoming match against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, but the injury concerns cast a shadow over their preparations. The hard-fought win against Mansfield serves as a reminder of the physical demands of multiple competitions and the importance of squad management. As Keown warned, the cost of this victory may extend beyond the scoreline, impacting Arsenal's campaign in the weeks to come.
