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Southampton eliminates Arsenal from FA Cup
Southampton secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, ending the Gunners' hopes of an unprecedented quadruple. Shea Charles scored an 85th-minute winner after Viktor Gyökeres had equalized for the Saints.
Arsenal's quadruple dream shattered
Just two weeks ago, Arsenal were favorites to achieve a historic quadruple, but back-to-back defeats to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and now Southampton have dashed those ambitions. This marks Arsenal's first consecutive losses of the season and only their fifth defeat overall.
The Gunners, who last won the Premier League 22 years ago, now face mounting pressure in their remaining competitions-the Premier League and Champions League. Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott warned against letting the season spiral, urging the team to regroup quickly.
Arteta defends players amid criticism
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his players' efforts despite the loss, emphasizing their nine-month consistency. "I love my players. What they have done for nine months. I'm not going to criticize them because we lost a game," he said. Arteta acknowledged the need for clarity and conviction moving forward, stressing the importance of maintaining high energy and speed.
"Someone has to take responsibility. That's me and we have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us."
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager
Injuries and rotation raise questions
Arteta made seven changes to the starting lineup from the Carabao Cup final, partly due to injuries. Eleven Arsenal players withdrew from international duty ahead of the break, though key figures like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard were absent. Captain Martin Ødegaard made his first start since January, while Gabriel Magalhães was substituted with a knee injury.
Midfielder Christian Norgaard dismissed suggestions that injuries or rotation affected the result. "No, there are no excuses. We had a really good team on the pitch that should have been competing on a high level," he said.
Pressure mounts as Man City looms
Manchester City, who defeated Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, remain a formidable obstacle. Pep Guardiola's side also advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 4-1 win over Liverpool earlier in the day. Arsenal will face City at the Etihad Stadium in April, a match likely to decide the Premier League title.
Former England defender Micah Richards criticized Arsenal's performance, calling their attitude "very poor" compared to their usual defensive solidity and effort. "For them to turn up the way they did, I thought was very poor," he said.
What's next for Arsenal?
Arsenal must swiftly regain their form to salvage their season. With the Premier League and Champions League still in play, the Gunners will need to overcome this setback to avoid a repeat of past near-misses. Arteta's leadership and the team's resilience will be tested in the coming weeks.
