Mikel Arteta praised Max Dowman and Marli Salmon after the 16-year-olds helped Arsenal reach the FA Cup quarter-finals by edging past gutsy League One outfit Mansfield. The former shone particularly brightly and became the Gunners’ youngest ever FA Cup player at the age of 16 years 66 days as he made his first appearance since November following an ankle issue. “Obviously two 16-year-olds starting in the FA Cup. “But tQuadruple-chasing Arsenal are into the FA Cup quarter-final draw for the first time since Arteta oversaw the first, and so far only, trophy of his reign in 2020. “That game exemplifies the history of the FA Cup, the difficulty of that and the beauty of that.

Source: Irish Examiner March 07, 2026 15:59 UTC