Arsenal suffered a stunning FA Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Championship outfit Southampton, crashing out 2-1 at St Mary’s in a result that sent shockwaves through English football.
The Premier League leaders simply couldn’t handle the second-tier side’s determination, with Ross Stewart opening the scoring before substitute Shea Charles delivered the knockout blow late on.
Viktor Gyokeres had pulled the Gunners level in the 68th minute, but Saints stood firm and hit back with Charles finding the net just five minutes from time.
It’s a famous victory for Southampton, who now head to Wembley for the semi-finals.
Southampton earned their victory over Arsenal, who were poor
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Mikel Arteta was gracious in defeat, offering his congratulations to the victors.
“We have to congratulate Southampton, they are going to Wembley and we are not,” the Arsenal boss said.
He acknowledged his side had shown flashes of quality but ultimately fell short when it mattered most.
“The team had some very good moments. We didn’t capitalise on those moments, and the way we conceded the goals is not at the level we have shown,” Arteta admitted.
“That is the reason we have lost the game.”
Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal did not show the right level to win the match
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It was another tame display from the Gunners, coming just a fortnight after their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.
Arsenal arrived at St Mary’s as heavy favourites but were plagued by injury worries throughout.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka missed out entirely after withdrawing from England duty, while William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke all carried fitness concerns into the match.
Gabriel started alongside teenage talent Max Dowman, but the defender’s afternoon ended early when he limped off injured.
Ben White’s misjudgement of a long ball gifted Stewart the opener on 35 minutes, sparking wild celebrations around St Mary’s.
Leo Scienza was brilliant for Saints, rattling the crossbar with a curling effort after the break.
The goal that secured Southampton’s spot in the FA Cup semi-finals! pic.twitter.com/1q4eZihT54
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 4, 2026
Arteta made a triple substitution before Scienza’s effort, and one of those changes paid off when Gabriel fed Kai Havertz, who laid the ball back for Gyokeres to finish smartly.
But with the Gunners allowing the match to drift, Charles struck his memorable winner in the 85th minute.
Southampton now dream of emulating the Saints side that lifted the FA Cup back in 1976.
For Arsenal, questions are mounting despite sitting nine points clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit.
With injuries piling up and form dipping at a crucial stage, the Gunners face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League next.
