Mikel Arteta insists statistics prove everyone wrong about Arsenal after ‘proper’ FA Cup tie

Mikel Arteta believes the amount of goals that Arsenal have scored so far this season refutes negative opinions about their style.

The Gunners avoided a shock result on Saturday by beating Mansfield Town 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

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Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze were both on the scoresheet for the Premier League leaders, who surpassed a landmark tally.

Arsenal have now scored 101 goals across all competitions, and done so with another two months of the season to go.

During the campaign, opposition fans have bemoaned their reliance on set piece goals, with 36 being scored in such fashion.

However, both goals against Mansfield were scored from open play, and Arteta pointed to the numbers to downplay any ‘boring’ tags.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “I think we have more goals than anybody else, I think it’s over 100 goals.

“It’s fine, we’re focusing on what we have to do, and I think we’re doing alright.”

Arsenal are in their best goalscoring season for 73 years, and Arteta added: “The numbers are evidence, the attacking inputs that we have are extraordinary.

“I mean, you talk about 70 years in the history of football and the context of the league, and the competitions that we are playing for.

“Not only that, the amount of players, I think it’s 19 players now who have scored goals, which is unprecedented, I think.

“That shows the quality and the desire of the boys to contribute to everything that we do.”

Up for the Cup

League One outfit Mansfield ensured that their Premier League opponents didn’t leave Field Mill without a fight in their FA Cup clash.

In the opening five minutes of the second half, substitute Will Evans brought the Stags level with a calm finish following a defensive error.

Eze later fired Arsenal back in front and, despite the scare, Arteta was a big fan of the occasion in a competition that’s known for its upsets.

“I’m delighted,” he said. “It was a proper FA Cup game.

“To respect the history of this competition, you have to really enjoy coming to these kind of grounds, opposition.

“And especially the crowd, I think they were fabulous. They made the game very, very interesting, very intense.

“A bit of banter, which I think is necessary as well when you play in the competition.

“Credit to Nigel (Clough, manager) and the team, because they made it really hard for us.”