PITCH BATTLE

Arteta expects his men to go through the Mill today

- BY TOM CANTON

MIKEL ARTETA says “being favourite means nothing” and has backed Arsenal to avoid being on the wrong end of another Mansfield upset in the FA Cup.

MANSFIELD boss Nigel Clough has told his side not to “waste the opportunity” of their lifetime in the FA Cup against Arsenal.

The League One Stags host the Premier League leaders at Field Mill today hoping to pull off one of the great cup shocks.

Mikel Arteta's side are gunning for the Quadruple and Clough knows it could be a long afternoon if they turn it on.

The Mansfield boss has experience of how these ties can unfold after his Burton side lost 9-0 at Manchester City in the 2019 League Cup semifinal first leg.

But Clough wants his side to embrace the opportunity.

“We're in the bottom half of League One, playing against the top of the Premier League,” he said.

“Without even breaking a sweat, they could easily demolish us.

“We knew that a few years ago when we went to Man City with Burton, such was the gulf and such was the quality, if they hit their stride.

“But we're going to make it as uncomfortable as we can in every way. It is possible. Shocks are possible.