FA Cup Fifth-Round Bonanza: Mansfield's Gunners Gamble, Wrexham's Chelsea Bash and City’s Toon Army Test!

Alright, lads, grab a pint because the FA Cup fifth-round draw has just chucked out a proper cracker of a lineup that's got more plot twists than a soap opera. We're talking League One minnows Mansfield Town rubbing shoulders with Premier League overlords Arsenal at the One Call Stadium – yeah, you read that right. These Stags stunned the world by booting out Burnley last weekend, their first fifth-round jaunt in half a century. Louis Reed's cheeky second goal in that shocker had the fans dreaming big, and now they've landed the dream (or nightmare?) tie against Mikel Arteta's title-chasing Gunners. It's like inviting the posh neighbours round for a cuppa when your flat's a tip – pure magic, or a recipe for FA Cup slaughter?

Over in the north-east, Manchester City fans might want to brace themselves. Pep Guardiola's treble-hunting machine faces a 'tricky' away day at Newcastle United. The Magpies have form here, remember that Carabao Cup semi where City had to dig deep? With City boasting seven FA Cup triumphs – the last one a few years back – they'll be eyeing an eighth to erase the sting of last season's Wembley flop against Crystal Palace. Marc Guehi popping up with a goal for City in the previous round? Blimey, stranger things have happened in cup football.

Ryan Reynolds and the Hollywood-backed Wrexham crew are buzzing like kids at Christmas after drawing Chelsea. The Red Dragons, who hadn't sniffed the fifth round in 29 years after seeing off Ipswich, get to host the Blues at the Racecourse Ground. Reynolds was straight on X, chuffed to bits – 'Deadpool vs the Pensioners' or what? Eight-time winners Chelsea fancy their chances, but Wrexham's fairy tale is the stuff of legends.

Liverpool, those 2022 champs who've been a bit sporadic in recent Cup runs (fourth time in 11 seasons), head to Molineux to face a Wolves side scrapping relegation. Fancy that for a plot twist – the Reds as underdogs? Meanwhile, Brentford, fresh from seeing off Macclesfield's giant-killing vibes, rock up at West Ham's London Stadium for a proper London derby scrap.

The rest of the ties? Fulham welcome Southampton to Craven Cottage, while Port Vale or Bristol City – whoever survives their rearranged fourth-rounder on March 3 – host Sunderland. And Daniel Farke gets a tasty reunion with Norwich City at Elland Road, Leeds ready to give his old mates a proper Yorkshire welcome.

All these beauties kick off between March 6-9, with the quarters on April 4, semis April 25, and the big Wembley final on May 16. It's the kind of draw that reminds us why the FA Cup's still got that old-school romance – lower-league lads versus the big boys, Hollywood glamour, grudge matches, the lot. Mansfield fans are already printing the scarves, City supporters muttering about 'rotation', and Reynolds plotting a Netflix doc. Who's your money on for the shocks? Pull up a stool, this is going to be epic.

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