Arsenal suffered a shock defeat to Championship side Southampton and were dumped out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage as their pursuit of silverware in 2026 took another hit at St. Mary’s.

From the start, Southampton looked determined to make things difficult for the Gunners and saw some early joy on the break as Mikel Arteta’s men struggled for rhythm in a stuttering first half.

The Saints, who sit seventh in the Championship and are pushing for Premier League promotion, took the lead through Ross Stewart after a mistake from Ben White. Leo Scienza drove the hosts up the pitch and crossed from the right with White leaping but missing the ball in his attempted clearance. Stewart chested it down and rolled in past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Arteta responded by making changes in the second half and Viktor Gyokeres provided a lifeline by getting on the end of a Kai Havertz cutback. But, it was the Saints who ended stronger as Tom Fellows carried them up the right wing before slipping a pass into the box for substitute Shea Charles.

Charles maintained his composure and slotted past Kepa to send Southampton into the final four of the FA Cup.