London
Southampton FC produced a stunning upset by knocking out Premier League leaders Arsenal FC from the FA Cup quarterfinals, while Manchester City powered into the last four with a dominant win over Liverpool FC.
Arsenal’s hopes of securing multiple trophies this season suffered a major blow as they went down 2-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium. Despite being favourites, manager Mikel Arteta’s decision to rotate his squad proved costly against a determined Southampton side currently competing in the Championship.
Ross Stewart opened the scoring for the hosts in the 35th minute, before Arsenal responded through Viktor Gyokeres in the second half. However, Southampton continued to threaten on the counterattack, and Shea Charles struck late to seal a memorable victory in the 85th minute.
The defeat leaves Arsenal with only the Premier League and Champions League to chase this season. To compound their worries, defender Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a knee injury ahead of a crucial European fixture.
In contrast, Manchester City delivered a statement performance, thrashing Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland was the star of the show, netting a rapid 18-minute hat trick — his 12th for the club — to dismantle Liverpool’s defence.
City’s relentless display also saw Antoine Semenyo contribute, as Pep Guardiola’s side booked a place in the semifinals for a record eighth consecutive season. Liverpool’s woes were compounded when Mohamed Salah missed a penalty, summing up a disappointing outing for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Chelsea FC cruised into the semifinals with a commanding 7-0 victory over lower-league Port Vale FC, showcasing their attacking depth.
The final semifinal spot will be decided when West Ham United take on Leeds United, after which the draw for the last four will be conducted.
With Arsenal out and City in imperious form, the FA Cup race now appears firmly tilted in favour of the reigning champions.
