Mikel Arteta has named his Arsenal side for today's FA Cup fifth round trip to League One side Mansfield Town, making nine changes from the midweek win away at Brighton.
Arsenal have named a heavily rotated starting XI for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie away to Mansfield Town, with Kai Havertz returning to the line-up and two 16-year-olds handed major roles in one of the club’s most youthful selections of the season.
Havertz’s inclusion is the most notable senior change. The forward makes his first start since facing Sunderland in early February, with Arteta choosing to freshen his team after the midweek win at Brighton. Arsenal’s team news confirmed there are nine changes in total, underlining how strongly the head coach is leaning on his wider squad for the trip to League One opposition.
The headline selection story, however, is academy midfielder Max Dowman. Arsenal say Dowman becomes the club’s youngest-ever FA Cup player, starting at 16 years and 66 days as he returns from injury.
Dowman is not the only 16-year-old in the XI. Marli Salmon starts in defence in his first senior start for the Gunners, alongside Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori, continuing a pattern this season of Arsenal giving teenagers exposure in domestic cup fixtures.
There is a more experienced look elsewhere in the side. Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal, while Christian Nørgaard comes into midfield and Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all start in attack. In terms of continuity, Mosquera and Martinelli are the two players to keep their place from the 1-0 win at Brighton.
One of the more striking details is who is not involved. Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended for this tie due to an accumulation of yellow cards in earlier rounds, while Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel Magalhães and David Raya are not included in the matchday squad at all. The absences point to rest and workload management as much as selection preference, with Arsenal protecting key starters during a crowded spell.
The bench includes three 18-year-olds, including recent arrival Jaden Dixon, who would make his first-team debut if he features. Midfielder Ife Ibrahim and forward Andre Harriman-Annous are also among the substitutes, both having already appeared for the first team this season.
Arsenal: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Marli Salmon, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori; Christian Nørgaard, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard; Noni Madueke, Max Dowman, Gabriel Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Setford, Hincapié, Saka, Eze, Timber, Gyokeres, Dixon, Harriman-Annous, Ibrahim.