Southampton host Premier League leaders Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final contest.
The Saints progressed to the last eight after defeating Fulham 1-0 in the fifth round, while [the Gunners overcame Mansfield Town with a 2-1 victory](https://footballtoday.com/2026/03/07/arsenal-avoid-mansfield-upset-to-progress-to-the-fa-cup-quarter-finals/) to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal’s pursuit of a historic quadruple took a hit when [they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in the EFL Cup final](https://footballtoday.com/2026/03/22/nico-oreilly-brace-helps-manchester-city-beat-arsenal-as-pep-guardiola-sets-carabao-cup-record/) a fortnight ago.
A Nico O’Reillysecond-half brace extended the Gunners’ 33-year wait for an EFL Cup title.
Despite their EFL Cup disappointment, Mikel Arteta’s side remain on track for a stunning treble, sitting nine points clear at the Premier League summit, preparing for a favourable Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon, and continuing their FA Cup campaign.
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.
Southampton dispatched Doncaster Rovers and Leicester City before edging past Fulham, as Ross Stewart’s late spot kick booked a quarter-final berth, their third in the past six campaigns.
The Saints have enjoyed a strong run in the Championship, collecting 10 points from their last 12 and sitting seventh, just one point shy of the playoff places.
Southampton and Arsenal meet in the FA Cup for the sixth time, with the Gunners triumphing in the first four clashes, before the Saints edged the latest encounter 1-0 in the 2020/21 fourth round.
The hosts will be without Jack Stephens, Mads Roerslev, Welington and Jay Robinson due to injuries.
While Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki are absent due to suspension.
The Gunners saw 10 players withdraw from international duty, as Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie will miss the trip to Southampton.
While Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
**Southampton (4-2-3-1)**: Peretz, Bree, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Manning, Charles, Romeu, Fellows, Azaz, Edozie, Stewart.
**Arsenal (4-3-3)**: Kepa, White, Salmon, Mosquera, Calafiori, Havertz, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Gyokeres, Jesus.
**Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal**.