fa cup draw: Mansfield to host Arsenal, Wrexham land Chelsea as Man City head to Newcastle
The FA Cup fifth-round draw produced a stirring mix of David-vs-Goliath matchups and heavyweight repeats, with League One side Mansfield Town handed a home tie against Arsenal and Wrexham drawing Chelsea. Premier League clashes include Newcastle United v Manchester City, while Sunderland must wait to learn their opponent after a postponed fourth-round replay.
Shock glamour ties and rare runs for the underdogs
Mansfield Town will play in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1975, earning a date at home against Arsenal after a memorable fourth-round victory at Burnley. The Stags overturned a deficit to win 2-1 at Turf Moor, producing a second-half comeback that captured attention and set up one of the competition’s most romantic fixtures.
Wrexham will host Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground, a tie that sparked audible disbelief and delight among the club’s celebrity co-owner when the draw was revealed. The Championship side have not lifted the FA Cup and last reached the quarter-finals in 1996-97, but successive fourth-round appearances since the takeover era have put them back on a national stage. Chelsea, eight-time winners of the trophy, travel to a ground that will be buzzing for the weekend of March 7-8 ET.
Premier League rematch and other notable clashes
One of two all-Premier League ties sends Manchester City to Newcastle United, a repeat of a League Cup semi-final earlier this season and a heavyweight pairing likely to dominate headlines. Wolverhampton Wanderers were drawn against Liverpool, while Leeds United will play Norwich City. Fulham face Southampton in another mid-table showdown.
Sunderland’s path remains unclear: they were drawn away to the winner of the postponed Port Vale v Bristol City fourth-round tie. That match was pushed back because of a waterlogged pitch and is now scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET; the victor will take on Sunderland in the fifth round.
What to watch and scheduling notes
All fifth-round ties are due to be played across the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 ET. With domestic schedules congested, managers will need to weigh cup ambition against league priorities, particularly sides involved in promotion chases or tight relegation battles.
Key storylines to follow: Mansfield’s ability to handle the occasion against a squad that has lifted the competition 14 times; whether Wrexham’s home advantage and recent momentum can trouble an experienced Chelsea side; and how Newcastle vs Manchester City unfolds tactically after their recent cup encounter. Lower-league clubs hosting top-flight opponents will also test squad depth and the classic cup temperament that produces upsets this time of year.
The draw underlines the FA Cup’s enduring appeal—big names, local heroes and the possibility of shocks—and sets the scene for a compelling weekend of fixtures in early March. Ticket details and kick-off times will be confirmed by the clubs as the ties approach, with fans already marking calendars for a weekend that could deliver more memorable cup stories.
