By Ayomide Otitoju
Premier League leaders Arsenal were eliminated from the FA Cup quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat to Championship side Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
Ross Stewart gave the Saints an early lead in the first half, before Viktor Gyokeres equalised for Arsenal in the 68th minute. However, Shea Charles scored a dramatic 85th-minute winner to seal one of the club’s most memorable FA Cup upsets.
The loss compounds Arsenal’s recent disappointments, following their League Cup final defeat to Manchester City, and continues their six-year wait for a domestic trophy. Despite the setback, Arsenal remain strong favourites for the Premier League title, holding a nine-point lead over second-placed City, with the league remaining their top priority.
Manager Mikel Arteta faced additional challenges as 11 players withdrew from international duty due to injury, including key England stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, forcing several starters onto the bench. Arsenal now turn their attention to the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
For Southampton, the victory marks a historic achievement, echoing their 1976 FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United. Wearing commemorative yellow and blue kits, the Saints celebrated a second-tier giant-killing, having already produced a shock win over Fulham in the fifth round.
The winning goal came as Arsenal struggled after Gabriel Magalhaes left the field with a knee injury, leaving the defence vulnerable. Tom Fellows delivered a decisive pass to Charles, whose composed finish into the far corner sent St Mary’s into raptures.
Southampton, unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions, advance to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2021 and now focus on their Championship promotion push, sitting seventh ahead of a key clash with sixth-placed Wrexham.
