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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made a startling admission regarding his tactical preparation after his side narrowly avoided an FA Cup upset against Mansfield Town. The Premier League leaders were forced to dig deep to secure a 2-1 victory over the League One outfit, but the Spaniard revealed after the final whistle that his experimental starting XI was barely tested on the training ground before the trip to Field Mill.

Mikel Arteta could not hide his pride after watching his Arsenal side navigate a tricky FA Cup fifth-round encounter against Mansfield Town. While the Gunners required a late intervention from substitute Eberechi Eze to secure their passage, the headlines belonged to 16-year-old starlet Max Dowman, who returned from an ankle injury to deliver a man-of-the-match performance at Field Hill.

Mikel Arteta handed a historic start to 16-year-old sensation Max Dowman for Arsenal’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Mansfield Town. The Hale End graduate became the youngest player to ever start a match in the competition for the Gunners.

Guide to the FA Cup fifth round draw, including when it is, how to watch it live, the teams involved and more