Southampton stun Premier League leaders Arsenal to reach FA Cup semi-finals
By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer
Super sub Shea Charles fired Southampton to Wembley as Tonda Eckert’s Championship side stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal in a famous FA Cup quarter-final victory.
Mikel Arteta’s injury-disrupted Gunners arrived at St Mary’s as overwhelming favourites a fortnight on from their galling Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
However, their treble tilt ended on the south coast after Charles secured a late 2-1 victory as Southampton bounced back from Viktor Gyokeres cancelling out Ross Stewart’s first-half opener.
WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mm5EzUlCZD
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 4, 2026
A semi-final at Wembley awaits later this month for the Championship play-off hopefuls, who are dreaming of replicating Lawrie McMenemy’s second-tier Saints winning the FA Cup in 1976.
It was just a fifth defeat of the campaign for Arsenal, who sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League but have plenty of soul searching to do after costly back-to-back cup losses.
There was an electricity around St Mary’s before kick-off – an intensity matched by Southampton’s players, who looked unmoved by the fact they were hosting the Premier League’s best.
Leo Scienza saw an early penalty shout against Gabriel Magalhaes ignored during an end-to-end start, with 16-year-old Max Dowman denied before Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed over a threatening Gabriel Martinelli effort.
Saints continued to take the game to Arsenal and Scienza should have scored in the 18th minute.
Gabriel mistimed a jump and ended up flicking a long ball for the Brazilian winger to race in behind, only to take a touch around Kepa Arrizabalaga rather than shoot as Cristhian Mosquera got back to deny him.
That scare shook Arsenal into life. Martin Odegaard was denied from 20 yards by Daniel Peretz and then scuffed an effort wide, with Dowman and Kai Havertz next to have chances as the Gunners turned the screw.
But just as Saints began to wobble Odegaard’s backheel deep in opposition territory was picked up by Scienza, who cuts across the field and played on to James Bree.
The right-back was allowed an inordinate amount of time to advance and clip a cross to the far post, which Ben White misjudged and Stewart brought down before rifling home.
The 35th-minute goal sparked bedlam around St Mary’s and stunned Arsenal, who offered precious little by way of response before the break.
Ryan Manning charged down a Dowman drive when play resumed, but Saints were offering a threat on the break and some of their crosses were causing problems.
The Gunners also proved capable of causing issues for themselves, including a loose Mosquera pass which led to Tom Fellows lashing over.
Southampton soon went closer still, with Scienza cutting on to his right just inside the box and bending a wonderful effort that struck the crossbar.
Arteta had made a triple change just before that effort and one of those introduced levelled in the 68th minute.
Gabriel exceptionally slipped through Havertz, who took a touch before pulling back for Gyokeres to level with a sharp finish.
Arsenal were forced into a change as Gabriel limped off to be replaced by William Saliba, with the hosts sinking deeper as the clock wound down.
Peretz did well to stop Dowman curling home and Martinelli drove wide as a late winner became more likely.
Few expected the Championship side to land the knockout blow, yet Saints managed to squeeze the ball through to Charles in the 85th minute and the substitute struck home coolly.
It was a jaw-dropping moment followed by some late jitters. Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori tried to level, but Arsenal fell short.
