Mikel Arteta said the quality of the League One pitch might influence his team selection for today.

He said: “It can do. If there is a player who is carrying some injuries that the pitch can effect him in the wrong way, especially with certain muscles, but hopefully we will have the ones we need fit and available.

“It [the pitch] is normal. It’s the beauty of this competition - you have to go there and adapt and make the most out of it.”

Saturday 7 March

12:15: Mansfield Town v Arsenal, live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

17:45: Wrexham v Chelsea, live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+, BBC One and iPlayer

20:00: Newcastle United v Man City, live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

Sunday 8 March

12:00: Fulham v Southampton, live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+

13:30: Port Vale v Sunderland, live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

16:30: Leeds United v Norwich City, live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

Monday 9 March

19:30: West Ham United v Brentford on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

Mansfield XI: Roberts; Akins, Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy; Reed; Bolton, Russell. Abbott, Irow; Oates.

Arsenal XI: Kepa; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Eze, Norgaard; Madueke, Saka, Trossard; Martinelli.

William Saliba could make a return for Arsenal but will likely not be risked in this type of tie, with the same going for Martin Odegaard. Ben White will likely miss out on the squad, while Mikel Merino remains the only long-term absentee.

Kai Havertz, Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli will be among those looking to start in a starting XI that will likely see wholesale changes, but Myles Lewis-Skelly misses out through suspension.

Viewers can watch the match live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am. Subscribers can also stream the action on discovery+.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12.15pm on Saturday, 7 March at Field Mill in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Mansfield saw off top-flight side Burnley in the previous round, winning 2-1 at Turf Moor to set up a tie with somewhat stiffer opposition: the Premier League leaders.

Arsenal meanwhile scored four times in 17 minutes in an emphatic display against another League One side, Wigan.

So Nigel Clough’s Stags face something of an uphill challenge at home today, even against a second-string Gunners squad as Mikel Arteta juggles fighting on four fronts.

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Mansfield vs Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

59 places in the football pyramid separate these two sides - can Mansfield spring another extraordinary surprise, or will Arsenal keep their hopes of four trophies in this campaign alive?