Championship side Southampton beat Arsenal to reach FA Cup semi-finals

Championship side Southampton FC produced a stunning FA Cup upset, defeating Arsenal FC 2-1 to book their place in the semi-finals.

The quarter-final clash at St Mary’s Stadium saw the hosts take a first-half lead through Ross Stewart, capitalising on defensive uncertainty to put the Premier League leaders on the back foot.

Arsenal responded after the break, with Viktor Gyökeres restoring parity midway through the second half, and briefly looked the more likely side to complete the turnaround.

However, Southampton delivered the decisive blow in the 85th minute when substitute Shea Charles finished off a swift counter-attack, sealing a memorable victory and sending the home crowd into celebration.

The result marks one of the biggest shocks of this season’s competition, with the second-tier side overcoming the Premier League leaders to secure a place at Wembley.

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For Arsenal, the defeat represents a significant setback, ending their FA Cup campaign and denting ambitions of a treble, having already suffered a recent loss in another domestic final.

Manager Mikel Arteta admitted disappointment after the match, pointing to defensive lapses and missed chances, while acknowledging Southampton’s resilience and organisation.

Southampton, meanwhile, continue their remarkable resurgence under manager Tonda Eckert, with the victory reinforcing their growing momentum as they chase promotion and dream of a historic cup run.