Player Ratings: Jesus and White flop as awful Arsenal exit FA Cup in Southampton defeat

Arsenal’s ambitions for a domestic cup double were extinguished on Saturday night as Championship side Southampton pulled off a massive 2-1 upset in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Having already tasted defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, the Premier League leaders arrived at St Mary’s under immense pressure to deliver.

Instead, a series of defensive lapses and a lack of clinical finishing saw them dumped out by a resilient Saints squad, who now head to Wembley for the semi-finals.

​The hosts took the lead in the first half when Ross Stewart capitalized on a misjudged cross that drifted over the Arsenal defense.

Although the Gunners found a lifeline through substitute Viktor Gyokeres in the 70th minute, their joy was short-lived.

Shea Charles settled the tie with a brilliant curled effort, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side to focus solely on their remaining league and European commitments.

​Arsenal Player Ratings 

​Kepa Arrizabalaga (6/10):

Retaining his spot after a difficult Carabao Cup final, the Spaniard was relatively solid under pressure. He produced several vital interventions to keep Arsenal in the contest while the Saints were dominant. He could hardly be faulted for either of the goals conceded.

​Ben White (3/10):

It was a night to forget for the defender, who struggled with his positioning long before the opening goal. His inability to judge the flight of the ball led directly to Stewart’s strike, and he was repeatedly targeted by Southampton’s pace in behind.

​Cristhian Mosquera (6/10):

The defender provided a crucial last-ditch recovery early on to prevent an opening goal after a defensive mix-up. However, his performance was nearly marred by a dangerous cross-field pass in the second half that almost gifted the hosts a second.

​Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

Returning from injury, the Brazilian looked physically taxed but managed to provide the game’s turning point for Arsenal with a superb long ball to set up the equalizer. Unfortunately, his night ended early due to a knee concern.

​Myles Lewis-Skelly (5/10):

The youngster failed to capitalize on a rare start, looking unconvincing in possession. He struggled to track back effectively when the Saints broke forward and was eventually replaced as Arsenal searched for more defensive stability.

​Christian Norgaard (6/10):

Left as the solitary defensive anchor in a very attacking lineup, Norgaard performed admirably under the circumstances. He worked hard to shield the back four, though he was often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Southampton counter-attacks.

​Martin Odegaard (6/10):

The captain was the primary creative spark during a bright opening 20 minutes, though he failed to convert a clear-cut opportunity to take the lead. As the match progressed, his physical sharpness seemed to dip, and his influence faded before being substituted.

​Kai Havertz (6/10):

For much of the evening, Havertz was a peripheral figure who struggled to impose himself physically. However, he showed great composure and balance to provide the assist for the equalizing goal before being withdrawn for a more defensive option.

​Max Dowman (7/10):

The 16-year-old was comfortably Arsenal’s most dangerous outlet, constantly driving at the Southampton defense. It was a telling sign of the senior players’ struggles that the team relied so heavily on a teenager to create scoring chances.

​Gabriel Jesus (4/10):

It was an anonymous display from the Brazilian forward, who failed to register any significant goal threat or link-up play. His lack of impact led to an early second-half exit in favor of a more traditional strike presence.

​Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):

A night of high frustration for the winger, whose predictable approach was easily neutralized by the Saints’ backline. His evening was summed up by a booking for an unnecessary altercation with the official during a dead-ball situation.

Substitutes

Riccardo Calafiori (5/10):

Introduced to provide more tactical security, the defender struggled to make a tangible impact. He was caught out of position during the buildup to Southampton’s winning goal, failing to track the run of Fellows effectively.

Noni Madueke (6/10):

Replacing Odegaard, he injected energy into the final third. While he successfully linked up with Dowman to create overloads, he lacked precision in the final moments, frequently carrying the ball out of play.

Viktor Gyokeres (7/10):

Providing an immediate focal point, the substitute proved far more dangerous in the box than his predecessor. He was perfectly positioned to convert the equalizer, showcasing the clinical presence Arsenal lacked earlier.

William Saliba (5/10):

Stepping in for the injured Gabriel, he was unable to tighten the defensive structure. Southampton continued to find gaps in the closing stages, and he could not prevent the late breakthrough.

Martin Zubimendi (N/A):

Introduced for a brief cameo following Havertz’s exit, he had insufficient time to influence the proceedings or settle into the high-intensity tempo of the final minutes.