This is the first meeting between Mansfield Town and Arsenal since January 1929, a match won 2-0 by Arsenal in the FA Cup. The Gunners have only had a bigger gap between games against Lincoln City (102 years, 1915 – 2017) than this 97-year gap against the Stags.
Arsenal have progressed from each of their last 15 FA Cup ties against sides from the third tier or below – the last side to knock them out was fourth tier Wrexham in the third round in 1991-92.
Mansfield Town are into the FA Cup fifth round for only the fifth time ever, and first time since 1974-75 when they lost to Carlisle United. The Stags have reached the quarter-final just once, beating West Ham 3-0 in the fifth round in 1968-69.
Arsenal have reached the FA Cup fifth round for just the second time under Mikel Arteta, doing so in 2019-20 previously when they beat Portsmouth at this stage, eventually winning the trophy. They last got knocked out in the fifth round in 2012-13 against Blackburn, a match that Arteta started for the Gunners.
Mansfield boss Nigel Clough will face Arsenal as a manager for the first time in this match. His father, Brian Clough, managed his last FA Cup match for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal in February 1993 – a match Nigel played in for Forest, losing 2-0.
Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 20 goals in his last 19 domestic cup appearances against teams from outside the Premier League (14 goals, 6 assists), across spells with Man City and Arsenal. Jesus has won all 19 of those matches, with his teams having an aggregate winning score of 69-9 in those games.
