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  "path": "/2026/03/07/mikel-arteta-explains-declan-rice-martin-zubimendi-miss-mansfield-vs-arsenal-fa-cup-tie-27280651/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-07T11:20:18.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Declan Rice",
    "FA Cup",
    "Martin Zubimendi",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Brighton",
    "Champions League",
    "Sign up here",
    "@deel",
    "March 7, 2026",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source",
    "@Arsenal"
  ],
  "textContent": "Arsenal made big changes to their starting XI for the game against Mansfield(Photo by Maynard Manyowa/News Images)\n\nMikel Arteta rung the changes for Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Mansfield with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi not included in the match day squd.\n\nThe Gunners have arrived at the business end of the season still in contention to win four trophies and were odds-on favourites to progress to the quarter finals of the FA Cup at the expense of League One opposition.\n\nArsenal enhanced their position at the top of the table on Wednesday evening following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brighton.\n\nFollowing the physical effort it took to overcome the Seagulls and, with a mind to their midweek Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen,Arteta opted to make nine changes to his starting XI.\n\nCristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Martinelli were the only players to retain their places in the starting XI, while teenagers Max Dowman and Marli Salmon were handed starts.\n\nKai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were also in from the start while there was plenty of firepower on the bench in the shape of Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres.\n\nAsked before the game whether the game represented a good opportunity to rest several key players, including his two midfield linchpins, Arteta said: ‘We know the difficulty of the challenge, it’s always really tough to win and earn the right to go through to the next round and we are very, very aware of that.’\n\n##  Your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week's biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\n> 🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️🆕 Salmon makes first start👏 Dowman becomes our youngest-ever FA Cup player©️ Jesus skippers the sideLet's book our spot in the next round, Gunners ✊🤝 Presented by @deel\n>\n> — Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 7, 2026\n\n‘That’s the beauty of this competition, we are able to play in various contexts. Big tradition for this country and loving the challenge.’\n\nMuch of the pre-match focus centered on the inclusion of Dowman who became the youngest player in Arsenal’s history when he made his Premier League debut back in August.\n\nAn ankle injury has prevented him from featuring at first team level over the last couple of months but Arteta was delighted to be able to let the 16-year-old off the leash against the Stags.\n\nMarli Salmon started at right-back against Mansfield (Picture: Getty)\n\nHe said: ‘It’s a big day and he’s been out for a few weeks so he has real hunger to show what he is capable of. He has a really good environment around him.’\n\nMansfield, meanwhile, beat Premier League opposition in the shape of Burnley in the last round and manager Nigel Clough was cautiously optimisitic his side could cause an even bigger upset.\n\nHe said: ‘Supporters been congregating since 8-9am this morning – big day for them.\n\n‘An incredibly difficult opportunity. Not just to get to the fifth round but also to get the Premier League leaders here. I juts hope we can make it uncomfortable for them.\n\nEberechi Eze, Jaden Dixon, Max Dowman and Noni Madueke were all in the Arsenal squad for their FA Cup tie against Mansfield (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘Everyone is excited but manager and staff not so much! We will try to play our normal game. I don’t think we can do it any other way.\n\n‘ When we can we will try to get the ball down – they are slightly technically better than us! But you never know, you need a break. It’s what you get away with as well – with Burnley they missed two or three chances and that went our way.\n\n‘Make it uncomfortable but have a go – no regrets. We have a one off opportunity to give it everything and let’s see.’\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "Mikel Arteta explains why Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi miss Mansfield vs Arsenal FA Cup tie"
}