Southampton pulled off a major upset with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal, knocking the Premier League leaders out of the FA Cup in a dramatic quarter-final clash at St Mary’s.
Shea Charles struck a late winner to seal a memorable giant-killing after Ross Stewart had given Southampton a first-half lead.
Viktor Gyökeres briefly restored hope for Arsenal with an equaliser, but Mikel Arteta’s side could not avoid a fifth defeat of the season across all competitions.
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The loss compounds Arsenal’s recent disappointment following their League Cup final defeat to Manchester City, extending their six-year wait for silverware.
Despite the setback, the Gunners remain in a strong position in the Premier League, holding a nine-point lead over City as they chase a first league title since 2004.
However, Arteta will be concerned by signs of inconsistency at a critical stage of the campaign, especially given the club’s recent history of faltering in title races.
Arsenal were without key players, including Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, while several others started on the bench as Arteta rotated his squad.
Attention now turns to Europe, with Arsenal facing Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.
While Arsenal regroup, Southampton celebrate one of the most significant victories in their recent history, boosting their momentum and belief heading into the final stages of the season.
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