This will be the sixth FA Cup tie between Southampton and Arsenal; the Gunners progressed from/won each of the first four in 1926-27, 1978-79, 2002-03, and 2016-17, but the Saints won the last 1-0 in the 2020-21 fourth round.
Arsenal have won both of their last two meetings with Southampton in all competitions (both in the 2024-25 Premier League), last winning three in a row against the Saints in February 2004 (4).
After beating Fulham in the fifth round, Southampton could eliminate two top-flight opponents in a single FA Cup campaign while playing outside of the top-flight themselves for the first time since 1975-76, when they won the competition for the only time in their history, beating Aston Villa in the third round after a replay and Manchester United in the final.
Arsenal have progressed from 45 of their last 48 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League, falling only to Blackburn Rovers in 2012-13, Nottingham Forest in 2017-18, and Forest again in 2021-22.
Southampton have been eliminated from each of their last five FA Cup quarter-final ties when facing top-flight opponents, including against Arsenal in 1978-79. They last progressed from such a tie in 1962-63, beating Nottingham Forest after two replays, while the Saints were in the second tier.
Arsenal have progressed from 14 of their last 16 FA Cup quarter-final ties, going out only in 2010-11 to Manchester United and 2015-16 to Watford in this time.
Tonda Eckert has won all three of his FA Cup games as Southampton manager, and could become only the third manager to win his first four with the Saints in the competition, after George Goss in 1925 and Alan Pardew in 2009-10
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has more goal involvements than any other player in the FA Cup this season from the third round (5 – 4 goals, 1 assist), while each of his last six goal involvements in the competition have come against lower-league opponents.