Bukayo Saka and Arsenal enter the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, March 7, 2026, facing Mansfield Town in a tie loaded with history. Arsenal have not played Mansfield since January 1929, a gap of 97 years that ranks as the second longest such absence in Arsenal’s fixture record. This match carries real weight for both clubs, though for very different reasons.
Mansfield, competing in League One, reached the fifth round for only the fifth time in their entire history. That alone gives the fixture a quality the FA Cup has always prized. For Arsenal, the task is direct: extend a record of dominance against lower-league opposition and push deeper into a competition they last won under Mikel Arteta in 2019-20.
A 97-Year Gap: The History Behind This Tie
Arsenal’s last meeting with Mansfield Town came in January 1929. The Gunners won 2-0 in the FA Cup. That 97-year gap is the second longest Arsenal have faced against any club, surpassed only by a 102-year absence against Lincoln City, which ran from 1915 to 2017.
The numbers point to a pattern. Arsenal rarely drop into lower-league territory in the Cup’s later rounds. A fifth-round tie against a League One side is unusual by their standards, which makes the fixture stand out on its own terms.
Mansfield’s route here is genuinely striking. The club last reached the fifth round in 1974-75, losing to Carlisle United. More than 50 years passed before the Stags returned to this stage. Based on available data, no Mansfield side has ever gone further in the competition. Saturday represents the biggest cup occasion in the club’s recent memory.
What Bukayo Saka’s Form Means for Arsenal’s Cup Run
Bukayo Saka is central to how Arsenal attack in tight cup ties. His ability to stretch low-block defences and carry the ball from wide areas creates chances that few wingers in the Premier League can match. Mansfield will set up to frustrate, and Bukayo Saka’s movement will be the main threat their defensive shape must account for.
Arsenal have reached the fifth round for just the second time under Arteta. The first occasion was 2019-20, a run that ended with the trophy. That reference point matters. The Gunners know what progression from here can deliver.
Arsenal have won all 15 of their last FA Cup ties against clubs from the third tier or below. That run covers more than three decades. The last lower-league side to knock them out was Wrexham in the third round of the 1991-92 season. Mansfield sit in League One, one level above that benchmark, but the historical weight of Arsenal’s record is hard to set aside.
Bukayo Saka’s goal contributions and progressive carrying from wide positions are Arsenal’s most reliable attacking tools in cup football. Arteta has used the FA Cup to keep creative players sharp across a long season, and Saka fits that pattern precisely.
Key Facts Ahead of the Fifth Round
Arsenal last beat Mansfield 2-0 in January 1929. The 97-year gap between fixtures is the second longest in Arsenal’s history, behind only the 102-year break against Lincoln City. Mansfield have appeared in the fifth round just five times ever, with their previous visit coming in 1974-75. Arsenal have won all 15 of their last cup ties against third-tier clubs or lower, a run stretching back to Wrexham’s third-round win in 1991-92. Nigel Clough, whose father Brian Clough managed his final FA Cup match against Arsenal in February 1993 — a 2-0 defeat for Nottingham Forest, a game Nigel played in — carries a personal link to Arsenal’s cup history.
These figures frame the contest clearly. Arsenal arrive with history and depth on their side. Mansfield arrive with momentum and the energy of a club reaching territory it has rarely visited.
Arsenal’s 2019-20 cup run is the only previous time they reached this stage under Arteta. That campaign included a fifth-round win over Portsmouth before the Gunners lifted the trophy. Based on available data, their record against lower-league opposition in the Cup is as strong as any club’s in the modern era.
For Mansfield, Saturday is uncharted ground. The Stags have never advanced past the fifth round. A win over Arsenal would rewrite their history. Their squad will draw on the energy of reaching a stage the club last visited more than five decades ago.
Bukayo Saka’s involvement — whether from the start or introduced later — will shape how Arsenal’s attack functions on the day. His progressive runs and direct dribbling from the right side give Arteta a clear weapon against a defence built to sit deep and absorb pressure. How Mansfield cope with that threat will define the tie.
When did Arsenal last play Mansfield Town before the 2026 FA Cup fifth round?
Arsenal last faced Mansfield Town in January 1929, winning 2-0 in the FA Cup. The gap between the two meetings is 97 years, the second longest such gap in Arsenal’s fixture history, behind only the 102-year absence against Lincoln City.
How many times have Mansfield Town reached the FA Cup fifth round?
Mansfield Town have reached the fifth round just five times in their history. Their previous appearance came in 1974-75, when the Stags lost to Carlisle United. The 2026 run is their first return to this stage in over 50 years.
What is Arsenal’s FA Cup record against lower-league clubs?
Arsenal have won all 15 of their last FA Cup ties against clubs from the third tier or below. The last lower-league side to eliminate Arsenal was Wrexham, who knocked them out in the third round during the 1991-92 season.
Has Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup with Arsenal before?
Yes. Arteta guided Arsenal to the FA Cup title in 2019-20. That run included a fifth-round win over Portsmouth. The 2026 campaign marks only the second time Arsenal have reached the fifth round under his management.
