Southampton stun Arsenal to reach FA Cup semi-finals

SOUTHAMPTON (Azat TV) – Southampton produced a cup upset for the ages on Saturday, stunning Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-1 at St Mary’s to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Goals from Ross Stewart and substitute Shea Charles sealed the victory for the Championship side, ending Arsenal’s hopes of a treble and marking another significant cup exit for Mikel Arteta’s team.

Saints’ Sensational Victory at St Mary’s

Southampton, who are chasing promotion back to the top flight, delivered a performance brimming with energy and tactical discipline. Ross Stewart opened the scoring in the 35th minute after capitalizing on a defensive misjudgment by Ben White, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Despite Arsenal, who were without key players Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka due to international duty withdrawals, pushing for an equalizer, Southampton’s defense held firm. The return of Martin Ødegaard and the presence of other senior players in the Arsenal lineup, including Gabriel Magalhães and Kai Havertz, were not enough to break down the resolute Saints.

Arsenal’s Fightback and Late Defeat

The Premier League leaders found their equalizer in the 68th minute through Viktor Gyökeres, who had come on as a substitute. The goal, set up by Kai Havertz, seemed to shift the momentum back in Arsenal’s favor. However, Southampton, managed by Tonda Eckert, demonstrated remarkable resilience. With five minutes remaining, Shea Charles, another substitute, scored a dramatic winner, latching onto a pass and expertly finishing to secure a famous victory. The goal marked a significant blow to Arsenal’s aspirations, coming shortly after their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

Cup Dream Lives On for Southampton

For Southampton, this victory continues a remarkable cup run and evokes memories of their 1976 FA Cup triumph. The club marked the occasion by wearing a limited-edition commemorative strip. Their reward is a place in the Wembley semi-finals, where they will face either Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham, or Leeds. The win extends Southampton’s unbeaten run to 14 matches across all competitions, solidifying their status as promotion hopefuls and giant-killers. Meanwhile, Arsenal must regroup quickly, with a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon on the horizon, and a crucial Premier League run-in where they hold a nine-point lead over Manchester City.

Arteta Defends His Squad Amidst Criticism

Following the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his unwavering support for his players, despite the disappointing performance and exit. “I love my players, what they have done for nine months. I’m not going to criticise them for losing here. What they are putting their bodies through, some didn’t have to be here today. I’ll defend them more than ever. If someone has to take responsibility that’s me,” Arteta stated. He acknowledged the mounting injury concerns within his squad, which has seen 11 players withdraw from international duty, but insisted that the team’s focus must now shift to their remaining objectives in the Premier League and Champions League.

The FA Cup exit, coupled with their recent Carabao Cup final loss, highlights a concerning trend for Arsenal in knockout competitions this season. While their Premier League form remains strong, these successive cup disappointments raise questions about the team’s ability to perform consistently under pressure in high-stakes matches, particularly as they face intensified competition in both domestic and European campaigns.