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Southampton stun Arsenal to reach FA Cup semi-finals Shea Charles scores in 85th minute winner for Saints Viktor Gyokeres had levelled for Gunners after Ross Stewart opener Arsenal suffer back-to-back defeats after Carabao Cup final defeat Saints into last four for first time since 2021 Semi-final draw takes place on Sunday Michael Emons Southampton 1-0 Arsenal Francis Benali Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live Ben White gets his positioning so wrong, he completely

misses his challenge in the air. Ross Stewart takes a touch, he bounces it up

and then volleys it past Kepa. This has really brought this game to life now. Southampton 1-0 Arsenal Alex Howell BBC Sport reporter at St Mary's Stadium The warning signs had been there for the Gunners who had given Southampton a few opportunities which they hadn't taken on previous attacks. It's an error from Ben White who misjudges a ball into the area which gives Ross Stewart the chance to put the Saints in the lead. The stadium erupted when that hit the back of the net. Arsenal need to try and get hold of this game if they want to get back into it. They aren't playing with their usual control. Southampton 1-0 Arsenal Alan Shearer Former Southampton striker on BBC One Southampton deserve it. What a touch and what a finish. Arsenal are all over the place defensively. Ben White gets in a complete and utter mess. He totally mistimes the challenge which then leaves Ross Stewart to get his touch right and volley it away into the corner. That is a very clever finish. He gets his eye on the ball unlike Ben White and then has the ability to finish it off. Southampton are just bypassing the midfield. They are being brave, playing quickly and causing Arsenal problems by missing that midfield out. Southampton 1-0 Arsenal Francis Benali Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live What scenes here at St. Mary’s! The camera have panned to Tonda Eckert who is stone faced. Ross Stewart Bedlam at St Mary's. Southampton spring a counter attack and an angled ball is played in by James Bree and Ben White has a shocker as he misjudges the flight and is caught underneath it. It drops for Ross Stewart and he takes a touch on his chest and then slots the finish past Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Premier League leaders are 1-0 down to Championship side Southampton. This video can not be played 'What a moment for the Saints! ' - Stewart gives Southampton the lead Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Ben White nearly plays Kepa Arizzabalaga into trouble with a backpass, but the goalkeeper just about manages to put it into touch quickly enough before a sliding-in Ross Stewart could get there. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal The chances are starting to come for Arsenal and this time Kai Havertz's effort is deflected behind. That brings about a seventh corner, but, once again, they go short instead of throwing it into the box and it comes to nothing. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Francis Benali Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live On Odegaard's scuffed shot. .. Odegaard doesn't catch it sweetly. He sort of bobbles it into the floor, and it's the wrong side of the post from Arsenal's perspective. Mikel Arteta turns away in frustration. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Arsenal are starting to turn up the pressure. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal It has been a very bright 29 minutes for Max Dowman, always looking to take on his man and get either a shot or a cross in. This time his effort is blocked by Daniel Peretz. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Alan Shearer Former Southampton striker on BBC One Max Dowman has to keep getting at Ryan Manning and trying to draw him into making another foul. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Francis Benali Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live There

has been some good defending from Southampton, but there has been long periods of

times when Arsenal are just popping the passes around, waiting to either pick a

runner out or deliver into the box. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Southampton left-back Ryan Manning clatters into Max Dowman with the home man getting a booking. If his side win, he will not be able to play the Wembley semi-final as that is his second booking of this season's competition. Manning can't make any more fouls or he'll be in massive trouble. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Alan Shearer Former Southampton striker on BBC One Great work from Gabriel Martinelli to cut it back to Martin Odegaard but he scuffs it. Terrible connection. Huge opportunity, that was. Two big chances, one for either side. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Martin Odegaard gets a powerful shot away for Arsenal, but Daniel Peretz dives to his left, sticks his arms up and is able to parry the ball for a decent save. Odegaard has another chance moments later from Gabriel Martinelli but doesn't get a clean connection when unmarked 12 yards out and scuffs the effort wide of the post. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Ben White has the space to put in a cross from the right and it bounces off the arm of nearby Leo Scienza, whose arm was close to his body so no penalty despite a half-hearted appeal from White. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Francis Benali Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 Live Scienza looked like he was away, he

was goalside of his marker, but you have to give credit to Mosquera. He does

well, Scienza takes the ball past Kepa, but it’s a little bit too far. And wonderful defending from Mosquera. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Alex Howell BBC Sport reporter at St Mary's Stadium Southampton have had a lot of moments in this game but have not managed to make the most of them. Arsenal have got away with leaving a lot of space and Leo Scienza is the latest player to let them off the hook. The Gunners have dominated possession though and have had six shots to the Saints one. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Alan Shearer Former Southampton striker on BBC One Leo Scienza has to get his shot away earlier, You cannot allow Cristhian Mosquera to get back like he did. You must get that shot away. It's the long ball again from Southampton. When you get an opportunity that good, you have to punish this Arsenal side. Southampton 0-0 Arsenal Southampton play a long ball forwards and Leo Scienza has the pace to sprint on to it. He tries to take the ball around goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and in doing so gives the also rapid Cristhian Mosquera the chance to come across and, with some brilliant covering, stop a certain goal. This video can not be played Southampton shock Arsenal to reach FA Cup semi-finals At a glance Southampton take lead through Ross Stewart in 35th minute Substitute Viktor Gyokeres levels the scores midway through second half Shea Charles scores winner in 85th minute Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes comes off with injury Southampton into semi-finals of FA Cup for first time since 2021 PLAYER RATER Arsenal were stung by a late goal from Southampton's Shea Charles as the Premier League leaders fell to defeat in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match was Arsenal's first after their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City and followed an international break which was notable for 11 Gunners players withdrawing from their national teams because of injury. However, Mikel Arteta was still able to name a side containing captain Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes, with Arsenal eager to clear this hurdle. Despite Arsenal having such senior players in their ranks, and dominating possession, it was Southampton who were the side to create the better chances. They were duly rewarded, with exuberant celebrations breaking out at full-time at St Mary's. Now a Wembley trip awaits Southampton in the semi-finals, with Arsenal's hopes of a league and cup double crushed. Championship promotion hopefuls Saints were on a 14-match unbeaten run coming into this game and their plan to get the ball forward quickly and behind the Arsenal defence caused the Gunners problems throughout. It was from a floated ball into the penalty area that the home side took the lead in the 35th minute. England defender White misjudged the flight of James Bree's delivery from the right, and that allowed Ross Stewart to control and swiftly plant a sweet finish past Kepa Arrizabalaga and into the right corner. Arsenal manager Arteta made a triple change in the second half, with Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori coming on, but Southampton continued to threaten. Tom Fellows flashed a ball just over the top of the Arsenal goal before the dangerous Leo Scienza hit the crossbar with a curling effort. The visitors drew level when Gabriel's clever pass put Havertz through into the area and he cut the ball back for Gyokeres to level in the 68th minute. But Southampton were not to be denied, and substitute Charles sent the home fans wild as he took on a short pass from Fellows and finished smartly into the bottom left corner. Arsenal searched for a second equaliser but found it was beyond them, as Southampton reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2021. This video can not be played Arteta reacts to Arsenal's loss against Southampton This was always going to be a difficult game for Arsenal on the back of their Carabao Cup final loss, with obvious fitness issues in their ranks and Southampton in fine form. All the same, this was a poor performance from Arteta's side. They did not create many serious opportunities and it was often 16-year-old Max Dowman who provided the most threat when the Gunners were going forward. Arsenal never quite got to grips with Southampton's plan to play long balls behind the defence, and the fact key centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes went off with an injury just compounded a bad night. Another trophy opportunity slipped away with this result, and Arsenal will be perceived by many to be wobbling. They must refocus. Arsenal remain in a commanding position going into the closing weeks in the Premier League, nine points clear of Manchester City, and they travel to Portugal in the coming week to play Sporting in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Arteta's challenge is to ensure that costly back-to-back defeats do not signal the start of an even more serious slump that will leave his team without a trophy of any kind come the end of the campaign. Shea Charles fires Southampton into the semi-finals for the first time since 2021 Southampton were full of confidence coming into this match owing to their excellent recent form. The home side did not sit back and look to frustrate Arsenal but played with purpose from the first minute. They pressed the Gunners backline and were not afraid to kick the ball into space to release the pacy Fellows and fellow winger Scienza. They were not fortunate to beat the Gunners and were the better side throughout the game, having chances to add further goals as both wingers went close in the second half. They are wearing a yellow kit in this season's FA Cup to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the last time they lifted the trophy in 1976 and will hope they can create their own historic moment this time round. Arsenal are next in action in the Champions League when they play Sporting on Tuesday (20: 00 BST). Southampton travel to play promotion rivals Wrexham on the same night in the Championship (20: 00 BST). After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Manager: Tonda Eckert Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Tonda Eckert Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 FA Cup All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the sixth FA Cup tie between Southampton and Arsenal; the Gunners progressed from/won each of the first four in 1926-27, 1978-79, 2002-03, and 2016-17, but the Saints won the last 1-0 in the 2020-21 fourth round. Arsenal have won both of their last two meetings with Southampton in all competitions (both in the 2024-25 Premier League), last winning three in a row against the Saints in February 2004 (4). After beating Fulham in the fifth round, Southampton could eliminate two top-flight opponents in a single FA Cup campaign while playing outside of the top-flight themselves for the first time since 1975-76, when they won the competition for the only time in their history, beating Aston Villa in the third round after a replay and Manchester United in the final. Arsenal have progressed from 45 of their last 48 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League, falling only to Blackburn Rovers in 2012-13, Nottingham Forest in 2017-18, and Forest again in 2021-22. Southampton have been eliminated from each of their last five FA Cup quarter-final ties when facing top-flight opponents, including against Arsenal in 1978-79. They last progressed from such a tie in 1962-63, beating Nottingham Forest after two replays, while the Saints were in the second tier. Arsenal have progressed from 14 of their last 16 FA Cup quarter-final ties, going out only in 2010-11 to Manchester United and 2015-16 to Watford in this time. Tonda Eckert has won all three of his FA Cup games as Southampton manager, and could become only the third manager to win his first four with the Saints in the competition, after George Goss in 1925 and Alan Pardew in 2009-10 Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has more goal involvements than any other player in the FA Cup this season from the third round (5 – 4 goals, 1 assist), while each of his last six goal involvements in the competition have come against lower-league opponents.   Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.