Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Gabriel own goal knocks FA Cup holders out

A strong Southampton side knocked holders Arsenal out of the FA Cup in the fourth round courtesy of a first-half own goal on Saturday.

The Saints were rewarded for their attacking intent in the opening period when Gabriel turned in Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross in the 24th minute.

It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded in 508 minutes as they suffered a first loss in seven matches.

Southampton will face another Premier League side, Wolves, in the next round.

With their next opponents enduring a poor run in the league and having struggled in their 1-0 win at non-league Chorley on Friday, the 1976 winners will fancy their chances of progressing further at Molineux.

The Saints also went close through Che Adams, whose low, angled strike was saved brilliantly by Bernd Leno, and James Ward-Prowse, who saw his delivery from a corner come off the bar.

In the second half, substitute striker Shane Long fell under a challenge in the box, but penalty appeals were waved away by referee Peter Bankes.

Arsenal were without striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, while another in-form player, Bukayo Saka, was only introduced in the second half.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners side were tepid as an attacking force during the first 45 minutes, but looked more of a threat after the break.

However, Eddie Nketiah’s deflected shot in the 67th minute, which was superbly dealt with by home goalkeeper Fraser Forster, was their only effort of note.

‘It was a good team performance’ – reaction

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl speaking to BT Sport: “We had in the first half more punch and more power.

“In the second half it’s normal they have a lift. We must make the second goal – we made one or two chances. Shane Long should have got a penalty.

“We won the ball early on in the game, but our last decision-making was not always the best. In general, our work without the ball was good.

“It was a good team performance.”

Arsenal manager Arteta speaking to BT Sport: “We’re really sad to be out of the competition.

“We had issues in the first half and unforced errors as a result of the high press they do. In the second half, we had two or three big chances.

“It was an even game. In the first half, they won a lot of second balls. In the second half, we added more quality. We became more dominant and created chances, but it wasn’t enough.”

Line-ups Southampton

Formation 4-4-2

44Forster

2Walker-Peters35Bednarek5Stephens3Bertrand

17Armstrong8Ward-Prowse27Diallo32Walcott

9Ings10Adams

Substitutes

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Leno

2Bellerín16Holding6Gabriel17Cédric Soares

25Elneny34Xhaka

19Pépé12Willian35Martinelli

30Nketiah

Substitutes

Live Text