Arsenal saw their FA Cup campaign come to a stunning end on Saturday after a 2-1 defeat to Championship side Southampton in their quarter-final clash at St Mary’s.
Manager Mikel Arteta watched his side fall short as a late winner from Shea Charles sealed a famous upset for the hosts.
Southampton opened the scoring in the 32nd minute following a quick counter-attack that exposed Arsenal’s defence. A cross from James Bree was misjudged by Ben White, allowing Ross Stewart to slot home from close range.
Arsenal responded in the 68th minute when Kai Havertz set up Viktor Gyokeres, who finished calmly to level the score and briefly revive hopes of a comeback.
However, the visitors suffered a setback as Gabriel Magalhães was forced off with a knee injury, disrupting their momentum.
Southampton capitalised late on, with Tom Fellows driving forward before assisting Charles, who fired home in the 85th minute to secure victory and spark celebrations among the home fans.
The defeat marks Arsenal’s fifth loss of the season in all competitions and follows their League Cup final defeat to Manchester City, extending their wait for silverware.
Despite the setback, Arsenal remain in a strong position in the Premier League, sitting nine points clear at the top as they chase their first league title since 2004.
Notably, the Gunners were without key players including Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, while several others started on the bench.
For Southampton, the result stands as one of the club’s most memorable victories, as they advance to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2021, continuing an impressive run of form while pushing for promotion from the Championship.