In the FA Cup Round of 16, Arsenal secured a 2–1 away victory over Mansfield.
Since the start of the season, many opposing teams and their supporters have complained that the Gunners rely too heavily on set pieces in attack. So far, Arsenal have scored 36 goals from such situations.
However, in this match against Mansfield, both goals came from open play. After the game, Arteta intentionally referenced the team’s overall statistics to counter the “dull” label some outsiders have attached to the side. In an interview with talkSPORT, he said: “I think we have scored more goals than any other team now, it should be over 100 goals. It doesn’t matter what the outside world says, we just focus on doing what we should do, and I think we are doing pretty well.”
“The data is proof that our offensive output is very good. I mean, you have to look at the 70-year historical background of football, the current competitive environment of the league, and the various competitions we participated in this season. In addition, the number of players who can score goals is also considerable. I think 19 players have scored goals now, which has never happened before. This reflects the personal abilities of the boys and their desire to give everything for the team.”
Speaking about the match, Arteta added: “I am very happy, this is a real FA Cup game. If you want to respect the long history of this event, you have to truly enjoy coming to such a stadium and facing such an opponent. Especially the fans on the scene, I think they are great. They made this game particularly exciting and the rhythm was very intense.”
“There were also some fun moments in the game. I think this (kind of atmosphere) is essential for playing in the FA Cup. At the same time, I would also like to thank Nigel (Mansfield coach) and his team for causing us a lot of trouble today.”
