Arsenal’s season hit one other main hurdle tonight as Shea Charles’ late aim noticed Southampton advance to the FA Cup semi-finals courtesy of an enormous upset at St Mary’s.
Simply two weeks after dropping the EFL Cup last to Manchester Metropolis, the Gunners noticed one other trophy elude them as Charles netted with 5 minutes to go to settle an absorbing cup tie on the south coast.
Ross Stewart had given Championship aspect Southampton a Thirty fifth-minute lead however Viktor Gyokeres got here off the bench to equalise for the Premier League leaders within the second half. The sport gave the impression to be heading in the direction of extra-time just for Northern Eire worldwide Charles to fireside previous Kepa Arrizabalaga and ship the house crowd wild.
If that wasn’t unhealthy sufficient for Mikel Arteta, he noticed key defender Gabriel substituted after sustaining what seemed to be a knee damage.
Scienza threatens as Southampton make shiny begin
Southampton, carrying their fiftieth‑anniversary yellow‑and‑blue package, began with the arrogance of a aspect unbeaten in 14 video games coming into tonight they usually had the primary probability after 4 minutes.
Leo Scienza discovered some house down the left and surged into the realm. He shifted the ball onto this proper foot and will have taken the shot on however as a substitute tried to fabricate some contact from Gabriel looking for a penalty. Referee Sam Barrott rightly waved away Southampton’s half-hearted claims and the prospect was gone.
Max Dowman introduced a save out of Daniel Peretz on the different finish earlier than Arsenal created one other opening that noticed Gabriel Martinelli fireplace in a shot that was heading in the direction of the underside nook earlier than the intervention of residence captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Arsenal have been struggling to search out their rhythm and Southampton had a superb alternative to take the lead approaching the 20-minute mark. Some uncharacteristically poor defending from Gabriel noticed him mis-time a clearing header and the ball fell properly into the trail of Scienza. The Brazilian was clear by however, after rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga, took too lengthy to get his shot away and Cristhian Mosquera bought again brilliantly to shepherd the winger away from hazard.
Martin Odegaard’s final begin was towards Brentford in February and the Gunners’ captain confirmed loads of rust by losing an amazing probability after 27 minutes. Shortly after testing Peretz with a strong shot, the Norway midfielder was picked out by Martinelli contained in the field however his shot hit his standing foot and drifted disappointingly huge.
Arsenal have been lastly beginning to pin Southampton again and Peretz needed to make one other cease to stop Dowman from scoring from a decent angle.
Simply as they have been getting on prime, although, Arsenal have been caught out on the different finish.
James Bree’s cross from the precise should have been handled by Ben White however the England worldwide bought caught underneath the ball, permitting Stewart to cushion it properly on his chest and fireplace residence.
Gyokeres provides Arsenal hope solely to see it extinguished
Arsenal tried to reply early within the second interval however Gabriel Jesus’s header was tame and straight at Peretz whereas Dowman noticed an effort smuggled to security.
For a aspect with the very best defensive file within the prime flight, Arsenal had regarded shaky all evening and one other error from Mosquera allowed Tom Fellows the prospect to shoot at aim however his effort flew over.
Arteta had seen sufficient and introduced on common starters Gyokeres and Riccardo Calafiori with Jesus and Myles Lewis-Skelly making means.
Noni Madueke got here on for Odegaard on the hour mark however not earlier than Saints struck the crossbar with the spectacular Scienza crashing a searing drive onto the woodwork with Arrizabalaga crushed.
Gyokeres was one of many heroes of Sweden’s World Cup qualification with 4 objectives in two play-off video games and he got here to Arsenal’s rescue, ending fantastically after Kai Havertz had reduce the ball again into his path.
William Saliba got here on for the stricken Gabriel, who was instrumental within the leveller with a superb line-breaking go for Havertz, and was busy instantly as Arsenal struggled to clear Fellows’ teasing cross.
Charles applies late killer blow to Arsenal
The stage appeared set for a grandstand end from Arsenal just like many they’ve produced this season.
However, this time, the boot was on the opposite foot. Fellows led a swift break earlier than chopping inside and slipping a go to Charles and he confirmed commendable composure to information a right-footed end previous Arrizabalaga.
Arsenal regarded shellshocked and their makes an attempt at discovering a second equaliser have been half-hearted. They now go into the Champions League tie towards Sporting CP desperately needing a win to get their season again on observe.
