League One side Mansfield Town have been drawn at home to 14-time winners Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round, with ties scheduled across the weekend of 7-8 March. Mansfield reached this stage after a dramatic 2-1 second-half comeback at Turf Moor to defeat Premier League Burnley. The draw also produced an all-Premier League tie between Manchester City and Newcastle, a repeat of one of this season’s League Cup semi-finals. Other notable pairings include promotion-chasing Wrexham hosting eight-time winners Chelsea, and Sunderland drawing an away tie against Port Vale or Bristol City, pending that postponed fourth-round fixture.
Key Takeaways
- Mansfield Town (League One) drew 14-time winners Arsenal for the FA Cup fifth round to be played 7-8 March.
- Mansfield progressed after beating Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor thanks to a second-half comeback.
- Manchester City travel to Newcastle in one of two Premier League-only fixtures; this echoes a League Cup semi-final meeting earlier this season.
- Sunderland were drawn away again; their opponent will be Port Vale or Bristol City after that tie was postponed to 3 March at 19:45 GMT because of a waterlogged pitch.
- Wrexham, described as Championship promotion chasers, will host Chelsea, who have won the competition eight times.
- All fifth-round matches are planned for the weekend of 7-8 March, with exact kick-off times to be confirmed.
Background
The FA Cup has long been fertile ground for David-and-Goliath stories, and this round continues that tradition by pairing a League One side with one of English football’s most decorated clubs. Arsenal arrive as 14-time winners and regulars in the latter stages of domestic cup competitions, while Mansfield Town are operating three tiers below the Premier League. Cup progress for lower-league clubs can deliver considerable financial and reputational gains as well as intense local interest.
Wrexham’s run to a fifth-round meeting with Chelsea adds another layer, given their recent surge up the English pyramid and stated ambitions to challenge for Championship promotion. Meanwhile, fixtures involving top-flight heavyweights such as Manchester City and Newcastle bring high competitive stakes and broadcast interest. Weather and fixture congestion continue to shape the competition: the Port Vale-Bristol City tie was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and has been rescheduled to 3 March at 19:45 GMT, affecting Sunderland’s immediate opponent certainty.
Main Event
Mansfield’s reward for their Turf Moor comeback is a home tie against Arsenal, a fixture that offers both a sporting challenge and significant gate and media interest for the smaller club. The Stags overturned Burnley 2-1 with a second-half revival, a result that underlines their resilience and provides a notable cup narrative ahead of March. Arsenal, with their deep squad and cup pedigree, will be expected to press for progression but must travel to a ground and a team with recent momentum.
The Manchester City versus Newcastle draw recreates a high-profile domestic matchup that has already produced drama this season in the League Cup semi-final tie. That repeat meeting will attract heavy scrutiny from pundits and supporters about tactics and squad rotation as both clubs balance multiple competitions. Wrexham v Chelsea presents a contrasting storyline: a Championship promotion contender against a club with eight FA Cup titles. The fixture will test Wrexham’s ability to compete with top-tier opposition at home.
Sunderland’s fifth-round opponent remains uncertain pending the rescheduled Port Vale-Bristol City tie on 3 March at 19:45 GMT; that postponement was due to a waterlogged pitch. If Sunderland travel again, it will mark consecutive away ties in the competition, potentially affecting travel plans and squad rotation. Broadly, the fifth-round draw mixes expected heavyweight clashes with opportunities for lower-league sides to achieve notable cup results and associated financial windfalls.
Analysis & Implications
The Mansfield v Arsenal draw is a classic FA Cup pairing that highlights the competition’s value to lower-league clubs. For Mansfield, hosting Arsenal can mean increased matchday revenue, broadcast exposure and a chance to galvanize supporters midway through the season. From Arsenal’s perspective, the fixture presents selection questions: how to balance the need to advance with player management ahead of league and European commitments. Managers often treat such ties as a measure of squad depth and mentality rather than mere formality.
Manchester City and Newcastle meeting again compresses two strategic debates: how much priority managers place on domestic cups versus league objectives, and whether high-intensity domestic fixtures should be rotated to avoid player fatigue. Both clubs have congested calendars and European considerations, so team selection and in-game management will be watched closely. The repeat fixture also offers a microcosm of a broader competitive balance in England, where top clubs frequently contest multiple trophies.
Wrexham hosting Chelsea has particular resonance given Wrexham’s ambitions and profile since new ownership and investment transformed their trajectory. A strong performance, even if it ends in defeat, could boost recruitment and commercial momentum for Wrexham. Chelsea face the challenge of avoiding a classic cup upset while managing expectations around squad rotation. For Sunderland, the uncertainty over their opponent until early March complicates preparation but underscores the knock-on effects that weather can have on cup scheduling.
Comparison & Data
| Fixture | Home (tier) | Away (tier) | Notable FA Cup wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mansfield v Arsenal (7-8 Mar) | Mansfield Town (League One) | Arsenal (Premier League) | Arsenal: 14 |
| Wrexham v Chelsea (7-8 Mar) | Wrexham (Championship) | Chelsea (Premier League) | Chelsea: 8 |
| Manchester City v Newcastle (7-8 Mar) | Man City (Premier League) | Newcastle (Premier League) | — |
The table summarizes confirmed tiers and the FA Cup wins cited in the draw coverage; it focuses on verifiable figures included in the official draw reporting. Exact kick-off times for most ties remain to be confirmed by the FA and broadcasters, and the Port Vale v Bristol City fourth-round replay is scheduled for 3 March at 19:45 GMT, determining Sunderland’s opponent.
Reactions & Quotes
The draw is a huge moment for Mansfield and their supporters, offering a rare high-profile home tie in a major cup.
Club statement (paraphrase)
Meeting Manchester City again provides a competitive benchmark for Newcastle and renews a high-stakes domestic rivalry.
Competition analyst (paraphrase)
Wrexham v Chelsea is a marquee tie that could have both sporting and commercial significance for the visiting and home clubs.
Local commentator (paraphrase)
Unconfirmed
- The exact kick-off times for several fifth-round ties have not yet been finalized, subject to broadcaster schedules and FA confirmation.
- The winner of Port Vale v Bristol City remains unknown until the replay on 3 March at 19:45 GMT, so Sunderland’s final opponent is unconfirmed until that fixture concludes.
- Squad selections and the extent of rotation by Premier League clubs for these cup ties are speculative until managers announce teams.
Bottom Line
This fifth-round draw juxtaposes the romance of the FA Cup with the practical realities of modern football: financial incentives and fixture management alongside the pure sporting narrative of lower-league clubs hosting giants. Mansfield hosting Arsenal encapsulates the unique spectacle the competition can produce, offering a platform for upset and exposure alike. Wrexham v Chelsea and the Manchester City v Newcastle repeat both guarantee headline interest and competitive tests for the teams involved.
Fans and clubs should watch for official kick-off confirmations and squad announcements as the weekend of 7-8 March approaches, and for the outcome of the rescheduled Port Vale v Bristol City tie on 3 March at 19:45 GMT which will finalize Sunderland’s path. The fixtures offer storylines with immediate sporting implications and potential longer-term effects on club finances and momentum.