Arsenal eliminated from FA Cup by Southampton in 2-1 upset

Arsenal lost 2-1 to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, April 4, 2026, eliminating them from a second competition in three weeks. Ross Stewart scored first for the Saints, Viktor Gyokeres equalized for Arsenal, but Shea Charles netted the winner with five minutes left.

Manager Mikel Arteta bemoaned his side's failure to handle long balls, telling BBC Sport: 'We didn't manage the long balls well enough. We just let the ball through us.' He added: 'We have to congratulate Southampton. They are in Wembley, we are not... Now we have to show what we are made of and the way to do that is on the pitch.'

This defeat raises questions about Arsenal's cup mentality despite their Premier League title challenge. Does this loss reveal tactical vulnerabilities in set-piece defending or is it an isolated off day for the title contenders?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/05/fa-cup-why-arsenal-lost-2-1-to-southampton-arteta/