SOUTHAMPTON, England
A fittingly thrilling classic late night FA Cup quarter-final was settled by Southampton substitute Shea Charles as bookies’ favourites Arsenal suffered a shock defeat to exit the competition.
Fresh from their Carabao Cup final humbling by Manchester City last time out, Mikel Arteta’s men were unable to cope with a Championship side that played with an intense sense of belief and destiny.
Make no mistake – Southampton thoroughly deserved this. These are worrying times for Arteta, his players and Arsenal supporters even though they still top the league in their pursuit of their biggest quest this season.
Arsenal substitute Viktor Gyokeres had equalised following Ross Stewart’s first half opener for the Saints.
But Northern Ireland midfielder Charles, once of Manchester City, became the latest cup hero for this famous club with a brilliantly taken low finish as the clock wound down to send Arsenal out and his own side to Wembley.
Arteta's injury-disrupted Gunners arrived at St Mary's as overwhelming favourites a fortnight on from their final defeat to City.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were missing from the squad having pulled out of international duty with England, but William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, all of whom had injury concerns ahead of the game, were in the squad, with Gabriel playing from the start along with teen sensation Max Dowman.
Southampton go to Wembley for a semi-final in the 50th anniversary of their last win in this competition while the cup’s most successful ever side go to Lisbon on Tuesday for a Champions League tie hoping they can recover some sort of form to restore confidence before they resume their Premier League title challenge at home to Bournemouth next weekend.
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