Shea Charles’ 85th-minute winner saw Southampton stun Arsenal 2-1 to reach the semi-finals of 2025-26 FA Cup.
Charles curled a low finish beyond Kepa Arrizabalga from Tom Fellows’ 85th-minute pass to seal a shock win for the Saints over the Premier League leaders.
Ross Stewart initially put Southampton ahead from James Bree’s 35th-minute cross, before Viktor Gyokeres equalised with a close-range finish from Kai Havertz’s 68th-minute cutback pass.
Charles post-match told UK broadcaster, BBC One that the victory is “… a real relief” as he explained that his tactics were solely about keeping possession but was pleased to score the winner.
“I got told to come on and try and get hold of the game, try and keep the ball a bit. We did OK, but to score was just special. I thought just try and place it in the corner.
“It’s really special. These fans deserve this and you heard how loud they were tonight.”
Southampton now join Manchester City and Chelsea in the semi-final draw which will take place tomorrow following the conclusion of West Ham’s tie against Leeds United at the London Stadium.
Unbeaten in their last 14 matches across all competitions, Southampton quickly troubled Arsenal within the opening minute as Tom Fellows burst forward on a counter-attack which forced a block from Gabriel.
Controversy soon brewed in the third minute as Leo Scienza broke forward into the box only to be brought down by Gabriel, yet referee – Samuel Barrott snubbed the Saints’ penalty appeals.
Arsenal soon settled as Max Dowman, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel and Havertz saw shots denied, whilst Fellows again was blocked by Gabriel to his frustration.
Southampton’s counter-attacking threat continued to terrorise Arsenal’s defence as Leo Scienza intercepted Gabriel’s attempted headed clearance of a long ball, which flew forward into the Brazilian’s path but he failed to unleash a shot before Cristhian Mosquera squeezed him out wide.
Martin Odegaard saw two shots in the space of a minute denied as he first forced a block from Southampton goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, before he curled wide of the top-left corner prior to another wasted shot from Dowman.
Arsenal’s frustrations up top soon proved to be their undoing for the opener as Southampton soaked up the Gunners’ pressure and burst forward on the counter-attack, as Bree teed up a cross into the box which flew over Ben White for Stewart to slot into the far-bottom right corner to put the hosts ahead.
Southampton proceeded to protect their lead until half time as Peretz saved Christian Norgaard’s shot on the stroke of the break.
Arsenal continued to struggle to beat Peretz as Dowman saw a 55th-minute shot deflected over the bar.
Fellows meanwhile put a 59th-minute shot over the bar as Tonda Eckert’s Saints continued to pose issues on the counter-attack, which prompted Arsenal manager – Mikel Arteta to make a triple substitution on the hour mark.
Arteta’s gamble initially had to be patient as Scienza rattled the crossbar for the hosts in the 62nd minute, but his patience was rewarded six minutes later as Havertz pounced on a through ball into the box and cut back for Gyokeres to smash into an empty net to restore parity.
Southampton subsequently soaked up Arsenal’s pressure as Dowman forced Peretz to punch away a 83rd-minute shot, before Martinelli fired wide of his near-left corner from a short set-piece barely a minute later.
Southampton soon punished Martinelli’s error as Peretz’s goal-kick was worked out to the right flank and picked up by Fellows who ran forward and slipped the ball through for Charles to curl into the bottom-left corner to restore the Saints’ lead.
Arsenal desperately tried to force extra time as Martinelli forced a save from Peretz whilst Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori rifled wide, yet Southampton held on to extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches as Fellows forced Arrizabalga into a last-gasp save.
What’s Next?
Southampton turn their attention to a difficult trip to Wrexham on Tuesday 7 April at 8pm BST, as both teams continue to battle for a Championship Play-Off spot.
Arsenal will too be in action on Tuesday evening at the same time as they visit Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League’s Quarter-Final tie.
Teams
Southampton: Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nathan Wood, Ryan Manning, Cam Bragg (Charles 76′), Caspar Jander, Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz, Leo Scienza (Edozie 71′), Ross Stewart (Larin 70′)
Substitutes: Cameron Archer, Nicholas Oyekunle, Shea Charles, Samuel Edozie, Cyle Larin, George Long, Joshua Quarshie, Jay Robinson, Oriol Romeu
Arsenal: Kepa Arrizabalga, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel (Saliba 72′), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori 60′), Martin Odegaard (Madueke 61′), Christian Norgaard, Max Dowman, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus (Gyokeres 60′)
Substitutes: Riccardo Calafiori, Viktor Gyokeres, Andre Harriman-Annous, Noni Madueke, Ceadach O’Neill, David Raya, William Saliba, Marli Salmon, Martin Zubimendi
Referee – Samuel Barrott