Southampton FC produced a dramatic late surge to knock Arsenal FC out of the FA Cup, sealing a semi-final berth with a decisive stoppage-time goal at St Mary’s Stadium.
The quarter-final clash looked poised for extra time after both sides traded goals, but substitute Shea Charles emerged as the hero, firing home late to secure a memorable victory for the Championship side.
The result compounded a difficult spell for Arsenal, who were playing their first match since their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. Manager Mikel Arteta named a strong lineup despite recent injury concerns, with key figures including Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz starting. However, dominance in possession failed to translate into control of the contest.
Southampton, unbeaten in 14 matches heading into the tie, proved more incisive in attack. Their persistence paid off midway through the first half when Ross Stewart capitalised on a defensive lapse to give the hosts the lead. Arsenal responded after the break, with Viktor Gyökeres finishing off a well-worked move to restore parity and set up a tense finale.
With the match heading towards extra time, Southampton found a decisive breakthrough as Charles calmly slotted home from close range, sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters.
The win sends Southampton to Wembley for their first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 2021, while Arsenal’s hopes of lifting both domestic and league honours this season came to an abrupt end.
