And yet, he grins when pointing out the same could have been said for non-league side Macclesfield when they pulled off one of the competition’s biggest shocks by bundling holders Crystal Palace out in the third round.
“I think Macclesfield’s exploits this season have really reawoken everybody to the possibilities of the FA Cup,” Clough said.
“You just had a team from National League North go and knock out the holders. These sorts of shocks can happen.”
And Clough would know.
He was still a player-manager in 2006 at the helm of then non-league Burton Albion when they forced Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United – a team which included Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Gerard Pique – into a replay at Old Trafford – where the Brewers eventually lost 5-0.
Clough says Mansfield will be playing for “memories” that can last a lifetime when they face the Gunners in what will be the highest profile game hosted at the One Call Stadium since a controversial Luis Suarez goal earned Liverpool a third-round FA Cup victory there in 2013.
“At Burton they still talk about Manchester United 20 years ago, and the fans will talk about it for the rest of their lives,” Clough said.
“It was Liverpool here 13 years ago and supporters still talk about it. You are trying to create memories so fans are in the pub in five or 10 years and say ‘do you remember when Arsenal came to the One Call and we gave them a good game?’
“The players know that they won’t be in this position maybe ever again, Mansfield might not play Arsenal again.
“So without thinking about it, everyone raises their game a little bit.”