Southampton vs Arsenal LIVE: Ross Stewart opens scoring to provide Saints lead in FA Cup quarter-final
Arsenal hope to advance in the FA Cup as they travel to the south coast for a meeting with Southampton in Saturday’s late quarter-final kick off.
The Gunners are aiming to win as many trophies as they can this season and are in prime position to succeed in the Premier and Champions Leagues. However, they lost the Carabao Cup final 2-0 to Manchester City last month meaning this is their only opportunity to win a domestic cup this year.
With the end of the season looming Mikel Arteta will need to juggle injuries as Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are expected to be absent from today’s match while there are doubts over as many as 10 players who were all withdrawn from international duty in the past week.
Southampton, meanwhile, will be hoping their impressive form is enough to cause issues to Arsenal as they look to dump out another Premier League opponent having beaten Fulham 1-0 in the last round.
Follow all the FA Cup quarter-final action with our live blog below:
HT Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
It’s been a pretty one-sided affair with Arsenal having 67% possession and taking 12 shots with four on target.
In comparison, Southampton have been more clinical with two of their three efforts hitting the target and, crucially, one of them resulting in a goal.
Can Southampton hold on to their lead in the second half?
HT Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
Ross Stewart gives Southampton the lead against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Half-time! Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
45+1 mins: Christian Norgaard hits a decent strike at goal but can’t beat Daniel Peretz.
The Southampton goalkeeper has been solid tonight and it’s a perfect first 45 minutes for the hosts.
Saints take a slim lead into the break.
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
44 mins: Mikel Arteta doesn’t look too pleased. He’s power stancing on the touchline like the best Tory politicians and issuing updates to push Arsenal up the pitch.
One minute to be added on at the end of the first half.
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
41 mins: A miscue from Kepa is quickly followed by an error from Havertz resulting in Finn Azaz coming away with the ball.
Azaz tries to make use of Kepa being off his line and shoots from range but delivers the ball straight into the hands of the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
38 mins: The momentum has swung in favour of Southampton with Arsenal now growing frustrated.
A free kick over to the left of Arsenal’s box is flicked into the box by James Bree but Havertz is there to nod the ball clear.
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Arsenal (Ross Stewart, 35′)
Odegaard gives the ball away to Scienza who drives Southampton up the pitch.
The ball is lofted into the box from the right and goes over the head of Ben White.
Ross Stewart chests it down and drills his effort into the far bottom corner leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga with no chance to stop the shot.
Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
31 mins: Close!
Southampton are putting in some last ditch defending already.
Kai Havertz shoots from range and his effort is blocked and deflected out for another corner.
Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
29 mins: Save!
Dowman is lighting up this game. He takes on the defence of Southampton once again and weaves into the box.
He then blasts a right-footed strike at goal but Daniel Peretz palms the chance wide of the near post!
Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
27 mins: Dowman is hacked down by Manning who collects the first yellow card of the game. That will make the battle between the two more tense.
Arsenal have had nine attempts so far but haven’t managed to force the breakthrough.
From the resultant free kick, Odegaard feeds the ball out to Dowman but his cross is claimed by the Southampton goalkeeper.
