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Mansfield Town vs Arsenal FA Cup Preview: Odds, Tips & Predictions

Date: Saturday, March 7 Venue: One Call Stadium Kick-off: 12:15pm GMT Mansfield Town will relish the opportunity to try and cause a huge upset when they host Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, March 7. There is something romantic about cup clashes between top tier and League One sides, and you can read more about the odds and build-up to this game in our guide. As things stand, Mansfield Town have had a dispiriting League One campaign; however, the broadcasting revenue generated from hosting the Gunners won’t go amiss. In stark contrast, the Gunners remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple, and this will be the first time they have played Mansfield in the FA Cup since January 1929. Anyway, ahead of this clash, we’ve dissected the stats and all the key angles, as well as potential line-ups to put you in the picture.

Charles Perrin
Charles Perrin

Last updated: 2026-03-02

Chad Nagel

6 minutes read

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Noni Madueke scores Arsenal's 1st goal during the Emirates FA Cup

Noni Madueke scores Arsenal's 1st goal during the Emirates FA Cup / Getty Images

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Arsenal Heavily Backed

To set the tone for this game, we’ve examined how the bookies have framed the market and where the early value may lie. Discover more here for a detailed look at Mansfield Town vs Arsenal.

  1. Home: 30/31 (31.00) – 3.2%

  2. Draw: 11/1 (12.00) – 8.3%

  3. Away: 1/25 (1.04) – 96.2%
    *Odds courtesy of BetUK, subject to change.

Head-to-Head Record

There isn’t much to go by here, as Mansfield Town and Arsenal have only faced each other once before, but we’ve revealed how the past meeting went.

Last FA Cup Meeting

  • 26/01/29: Arsenal 2-0 Mansfield Town

Mansfield Town Current Form – LWLLD

It has been a tough campaign for Mansfield Town to date. With just one win across their past five matches in all competitions, Nigel Clough’s men could do with a pick-me-up.

Clough’s style is very much possession-oriented, setting up in a 4-3-2-1 or 3-4-2-1 formation, but it hasn’t necessarily yielded results.

They will need to soak up a lot of pressure against the Gunners, but the best option might be from set-pieces, where they can pile men forward from corners and free-kicks.

Key Players to Watch

  • Rhys Oates
    Although he only recently returned to action after suffering a toe injury, Rhys Oates loves to cut inside and shoot from distance. He’s a slippery customer, and he netted in the 2-1 win away to Burnley in the fourth round last month, so Arsenal have been warned!
  • Stephen McLaughlin
    A highly versatile midfielder, Stephen McLaughlin is cool and calm on the ball, and he’s weighed in with three assists for Mansfield, so he will be looking to unlock the Arsenal defence.
  • Will Evans
    A left-footed striker, Will Evans, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has netted eight times in all competitions this term, and while he hasn’t scored since a 3-0 win over Port Vale in January, he could cause the Gunners problems.

Mansfield Town Team News

Nigel Clough was given an injury boost with Regan Hendry returning to action, while Oates and Deji Oshilaja (both toe) are in contention to make the starting XI.

Arsenal Current Form – DWDWW

Although it seemed like they were going through a wobble in January, Arsenal have regrouped, and they are in fine fettle.

Fighting on all four fronts, the Gunners are looking to make history by becoming the first English side to complete an unprecedented quadruple.

Having brushed aside Wigan Athletic 4-0 with consummate ease in the fourth round, Arsenal won’t be daunted by a trip to Mansfield.

Provided Mikel Arteta’s side aren’t complacent, they are likely to monopolise possession and lay siege to Mansfield’s goal.

Key Players to Watch

  • Noni Madueke
    While there were some concerns about Noni Madueke earlier in the season, he has started to shine, and he’s been in good form lately, scoring twice in his past four outings in all competitions.
  • Bukayo Saka
    Although he hasn’t been as productive compared to the previous campaign, Bukayo Saka loves to beat defenders, flash crosses across the six-yard box, and he can be deadly when in front of goal. Mansfield will need to keep close tabs on him.
  • Gabriel Martinelli
    Gabriel Martinelli has come alive in the FA Cup this term. He’s been threatening, and he can pounce on loose balls in the box. Four goals across his past two appearances in the competitions suggest he’s a major threat.

Arsenal Team News

The only major doubt at the moment is Kai Havertz; however, Arteta will pay respect to the competition and field a strong side for the trip to Mansfield.

Predicted Line-Ups

  1. Mansfield Town (3-4-2-1)

    Roberts; Knoyle, Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, Akins, Reed, Lewis, McLaughlin, Russell, Evans; Oates

  2. Arsenal (4-2-3-1)

    Arrizabalaga; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Eze, Madueke, Saka, Martinelli; Jesus

Suggested Bets

The FA Cup provides unscripted drama, and Mansfield Town vs Arsenal should be an enjoyable watch. Don’t forget to leaf through our expert tips and predictions outlined below.

  1. Over 3.5 Goals: Arsenal rattled four past Wigan, and considering Mansfield are perhaps only marginally better opposition, there could be plenty of goals in this game. The Over 3.5 goals line is screaming out here. (8/11 with Midnite)

  2. Both Teams to Score (No): Rather than going for the traditional yes part of the line, Mansfield could struggle to break the Gunners down, so the no segment of the BTTS market appears more realistic. (8/15 with Betfred)

  3. First Team to Score – Arsenal: With Arsenal’s season entering a critical period, they won’t let up. They have been strong starters, and they showed that against Wigan. The Gunners to net the opening goal makes sense. (1/8 with 10bet)

Value Bets

A first deposit offer is often appreciated when wagering on the FA Cup. It can be used on various lines, and we’ve highlighted some markets to engage with before Mansfield Town vs Arsenal.

  1. Arsenal Total Goals Over 4.5: The individual team goals market is fascinating, and given Arsenal put four past Wigan and Portsmouth in the past couple of rounds, the Over 4.5 lines doesn’t seem overly ambitious. (5/2 with QuinnBet)

  2. Arsenal First Goalscorer – Gabriel Martinelli: Martinelli has been prolific in the FA Cup, and although he scored a hat-trick against Pompey, he could have bagged four or more. Anyway, the Brazilian to net the opener against Mansfield offers value. (24/5 with BetMGM)

  3. Anytime Assist – Bukayo Saka: While he hasn’t been prolific on the assists front, Bukayo Saka could have some say against Mansfield. The playmaker could pop up with an assist anytime, which is worth exploring further. (5/4 with Leovegas)

Prediction: Arsenal to Win to Nil

Arsenal are desperately craving success, and they could win several trophies this season. Mansfield Town will want to play the role of party poopers, and although they knocked out Premier League opposition in the form of Burnley, the Gunners represent a serious step-up.

Provided the Gunners go about the game in a professional manner, they should prevail comfortably. They took out Wigan and Portsmouth, and they barely broke a sweat. Mansfield could be in for a tough afternoon. An away victory and without conceding a goal is swaying us.

Charles Perrin
Charles PerrinSports Betting Writer

Charles Perrin has spent over six years writing about sports betting, working with some of the UK’s top sportsbooks, including bet365 and William Hill.

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