The FA Cup Quarter-Final between Southampton vs Arsenal is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 20:00 BST (3:00 PM ET). The match will be played at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, England.
This is a classic cup tie where 2025-26 Premier League leaders Arsenal travel to face a Championship side Southampton, who are in excellent form and looking to cause an upset on home soil.
The Saints have already knocked out Fulham and are unbeaten in 14 matches across all competitions, while Arsenal arrive as Premier League leaders but with a long injury and withdrawal list that has made their selection much trickier than usual.
Southampton vs Arsenal – Match Details, Date, Time, Predictions, Lineups & More
- Match: Southampton vs Arsenal.
- Tournament: FA Cup Quarter-Final.
- Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026.
- Time: 8:00 PM BST / 3:00 PM ET.
- Stadium: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton.
- Ticket: Football tickets site
Team News and Analysis
Southampton
Southampton have made their FA Cup run into quite the story. A late Ross Stewart penalty saw them beat Fulham 1-0 in the fifth round, and according to Sports Mole, they’ve since picked up 10 points from their last 12 in the Championship.
They’re unbeaten in 14 matches, winning 11 of them, and that kind of form could make life tricky for Arsenal.
The Saints have a solid home record to lean on for this one. According to the club’s notes, the last five meetings with Arsenal at St. Mary’s have been evenly split, with two wins apiece and one draw.
It’s enough to make this feel like a genuine cup tie rather than just another routine top-flight-versus-Championship clash.
Arsenal
Arsenal may still seem the stronger side on paper, but the lead-up has been overshadowed by a wave of absences.
According to Reuters, Martin Zubimendi became the 10th senior player to rejoin the club during the international break, alongside Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapié, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Jurrien Timber, Leandro Trossard, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Ødegaard, all in varying stages of recovery or withdrawal.
Arteta is therefore walking into this quarter-final with a heavily managed squad.
That leaves Arsenal’s attack and midfield in a somewhat unorthodox shape, but they still have the quality to control stretches of the game.
According to TalkSport, Arteta might have to rely on a makeshift XI, with players like Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Kai Havertz, Christian Norgaard, Max Dowman, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyökeres all in the mix as potential options.
Head-to-Head Statistics
The recent head-to-head record is surprisingly balanced at St. Mary’s. Southampton’s official site says the last five meetings at the ground have produced two wins each and one draw, while the two clubs also met at the end of last season when Arsenal won 2-1 at St. Mary’s.
| Date | Competition Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 25 May 2025 | Premier League | Southampton 1-2 Arsenal |
| 5 Oct. 2024 | Premier League | Arsenal 3-1 Southampton |
| Oct. 2022 | Premier League | Southampton 1-1 Arsenal |
Southampton vs Arsenal Starting XI
- Southampton’s possible starting XI vs Arsenal: Peretz; Bree, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Manning; Jander, Romeu; Fellows, Azaz, Edozie; Stewart
- Arsenal’s possible starting XI vs Southampton: Kepa; White, Salmon, Mosquera, Calafiori; Havertz, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Gyokeres, Jesus
Key Players to Watch
- Southampton: Ross Stewart, Cyle Larin, Shea Charles, Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz. Stewart was the hero against Fulham, while Charles and Azaz have been central to Southampton’s recent good form.
- Arsenal: Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice. Arsenal’s biggest issue is not lack of talent, but who is actually fit enough to play; if those names are available, they tilt the game heavily toward the visitors.
Match Prediction
This feels like a classic cup upset trap. Southampton are in strong form, at home, and already know how to make this tie uncomfortable.
Arsenal still have the deeper squad, but the injury and availability picture makes this a lot closer than the table would suggest. Arsenal may still edge it, but only just.
- Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal.
Where to Watch Southampton vs Arsenal
In the U.K., the match will be shown live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 1, and HBO Max. In the U.S., ESPN lists live coverage for the game.
When is Southampton vs Arsenal?
Saturday, April 4, 2026.
What time does it kick off?
8:00 PM BST, which is 3:00 PM ET.
Where is the match being played?
St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
Where can I watch it in the U.S.?
ESPN lists live coverage for the match.
Who will win the match?
Arsenal are the slight favorite on paper, but Southampton’s form and home record make this a much tighter quarter-final than usual. That is an inference based on the official fixture context and current team news.
