Arsenal Stunned by Southampton, Crash Out of FA Cup
Southampton secured victory with a late goal from Shea Charles, sending the hosts into the semifinals for the first time since 2021.
KATHMANDU: Arsenal suffered a shock 2–1 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup quarterfinal, ending their hopes of a domestic double this season.
Southampton secured victory with a late goal from Shea Charles, sending the hosts into the semifinals for the first time since 2021.
The match marked Arsenal’s first outing since their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, with the squad also dealing with injury setbacks after the international break.
Despite fielding key players including captain Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Ben White, and Gabriel Magalhães, Arsenal struggled to convert possession into clear chances.
Southampton took the lead in the 35th minute when James Bree’s cross caused confusion in Arsenal’s defense, allowing Ross Stewart to beat goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and score.
Arsenal responded in the second half, with Mikel Arteta introducing fresh legs. The equalizer came in the 68th minute as Havertz set up Viktor Gyökeres to level the score at 1–1.
However, Southampton sealed the win in the 85th minute when Tom Fellows’ short pass found Charles, who calmly finished to restore the lead.
Arsenal pushed for a late equalizer but failed to break through, confirming their exit from the competition. The defeat also ends their ambitions of winning both the league and domestic cup this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City and Chelsea have already booked their places in the FA Cup semifinals, with Southampton now set to join them at Wembley.
