Eberechi Eze’s thumping second-half strike fired Arsenal past League One Mansfield with a 2-1 victory.
A famous upset briefly looked on the cards at the One Call Stadium, after Will Evans equalised for the Stags following Noni Madueke’s opener.
But Eze, the matchwinner in last season's final, came off the bench to put the 14-time champions back in front with 25 minutes remaining, as he ruthlessly lashed home into the top corner from the edge of the box to send the Gunners into the quarter-finals.
Arsenal began in control and almost found an immediate breakthrough as Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Roberts put his pass straight at Max Dowman but the teenager was crowded out by the Stags defence.
Dowman was through on goal again minutes later but Roberts was called into action to deny him with his legs.
While the Premier League side dominated possession, Mansfield remained dangerous and had their first sight of goal after 15 minutes as Rhys Oates got in behind but his cross was pushed away by Kepa before the Spaniard denied Louis Reed’s follow-up effort.
Tyler Roberts then curled an effort goalwards that was just wide of the post as Nigel Clough’s side continued to threaten the Arsenal goal.
The visitors looked to regain control and Gabriel Martinelli came close to putting them in front with an effort that was saved by Roberts at his near post.
Roberts was beginning to become the busier keeper at the first half wore on but Kepa was called into action once more to deny Oates.
Madueke then made the breakthrough just four minutes before half time, as the England winger curled into the top corner from just inside the box.
That looked to give Arsenal complete control but Mansfield made the perfect start to the second half as they grabbed an equaliser five minutes after the restart.
A short pass from Marli Salmon was seized upon by half time substitute Evans, who raced past Christian Mosquera and fired home to send the home crowd into raptures.
Evans had another sight of goal as he looked to latch onto a through ball that was just too heavy as Mansfield pushed for a potential winner.
But it was Arsenal who got the crucial next goal, as Eze held off his marker before unleashing a fierce strike into the top corner.
The tie then became a scrappier affair as both sides made changes but Arsenal were able to limit the chances of their League One opponents late on as they sealed their place in the last eight.
