Mikel Arteta has suggested that he is still coming to grips with the intricacies of squad rotation after putting together one of Arsenal‘s most formidable teams. The formidable challenge posed by Mansfield Town in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round match at One Call Stadium illustrates that this is a lesson he is still learning.
Despite this, Arsenal continues to pursue the remarkable goal of a quadruple, securing a 2-1 victory thanks to a stunning 66th-minute goal from substitute Eberechi Eze, who struck it high into the net.
The team fielded two 16-year-olds—Marli Salmon and Max Dowman—with Dowman becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever FA Cup starter at the age of 16 years and 66 days. This victory marked their 35th win across all competitions, already the highest total under Arteta with still three months left in the season.
If Arsenal makes it through the upcoming fixtures, they could face up to 19 games left this season. There is a lingering concern that Arteta needs to better utilize his squad to remain competitive.
Criticism has emerged regarding Arteta’s tendency to rely heavily on key players, making his decision to rotate the squad understandable, especially with the quick turnaround from Wednesday’s win at Brighton to Saturday’s match against a League One side. However, the adjustments required for those who stepped in, coupled with the decision to switch to a back three for the first time in 246 matches, added to the challenges faced on a difficult pitch against an unfamiliar opponent.
The last time Arsenal employed a back three was in August 2021, losing 5-0 to Manchester City. The team appeared unbalanced and uncertain until Leandro Trossard suffered an injury, prompting Arteta to reassess after just 38 minutes.
He substituted in defender Piero Hincapié, reverted to a back four, and just three minutes later, Noni Madueke tallied the opening goal, marking Arsenal’s 100th goal this season across all competitions. This raises the question: why switch formations initially?
“It was about the available players,” Arteta explained afterward. “To manage player load and certain issues we faced, we needed to adapt. It is not ideal to prepare with just a day, but it was an opportunity for us to see how we could adjust—something I anticipated in challenging circumstances.”
With only a single day of full training between returning from Brighton and heading to Mansfield, Arteta was asked how frequently they practiced the new formation. “Yes, once, for about 10 minutes,” was his candid response.
Ultimately, Arsenal depended on their individual talent to progress, which proved sufficient. Mansfield, reaching this stage of the competition for the first time since 1974 and taking on a team 59 places higher in the English football hierarchy, held their own for extended periods with determination and grit.
Mansfield’s chief executive, Carolyn Radford, had previously mentioned the rapid preparations for the game, including emergency paint jobs and plumbing repairs to prepare for the occasion. They also heavily watered the pitch to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm, and their boldness in pushing players forward seemed to unsettle the Gunners.
Five minutes after the break, Salmon made a misplaced pass to Cristhian Mosquera, who hesitated too long, allowing Will Evans to charge toward Arsenal’s defense.
Evans managed to break into the box and netted a low shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga, temporarily equalizing the game. Arteta quickly responded by substituting in Jurriën Timber and Eze, with the latter making an immediate impact just four minutes after entering the match.
Arteta’s management of Eze has been a topic of discussion among fans, many wishing to see him given a more consistent run in the team to allow him to showcase his creativity. This decisive moment could serve as a springboard for further opportunities.
Dowman played 77 minutes before Bukayo Saka took his place. Finding the balance between allowing a young player the space to develop and highlighting someone as talented as Dowman is a challenge.
There are calls for Arteta to feature Dowman more often. Though placing him on such a pitch against physical opposition may raise questions, his ability to navigate a difficult surface with grace and flair continues to inspire excitement about his potential.
With his recent return from an ankle injury, he presents a compelling option as the season progresses.
“Max was exceptional,” Arteta stated. “In a chaotic match where the ball was bouncing everywhere, his ability to manage time and space and the quality of his touches were remarkable—especially given the speed at which he executed his decisions. It underscores the incredible talent we possess.”
Now, it is Arteta’s responsibility to harness that talent to keep Arsenal moving forward. Concerns arise due to injuries to Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of their Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
“I believe everyone feels involved,” Arteta added. “We have the drive to get closer to our goals, game by game.”