Southampton vs Arsenal. The FA Cup Fourth Round.
St. Mary's Stadium.
Match report as FA Cup holders Arsenal are knocked out of the competition at the fourth round after an own goal from Gabriel; Southampton will now face Wolves at Molineux in the next round
Sunday 24 January 2021 11:44, UK
FA Cup holders Arsenal were knocked out in the fourth round by Southampton on Saturday after a first-half own goal from Gabriel.
The Brazil centre back deflected Kyle Walker-Peters's low drive past Bernd Leno midway through the first half at St Mary's - the first goal the visitors had conceded in over eight and a half hours stretching back to Boxing Day - as Southampton got the better of Arsenal for the first time in the competition.
As a result, Ralph Hasenhuttl's side will now take on Wolves at Molineux in February's fifth round after they edged past non-league Chorley Town 1-0 on Friday night.
Both managers made a raft of changes with the two teams meeting again at St Mary's in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, although the hosts still sent out a strong line-up as key striker Danny Ings returned.
Saints dominated proceedings before the break, almost opening the scoring in fortuitous circumstances when captain James Ward-Prowse's corner from the right floated over Leno's head, only to crash against the bar.
The Arsenal No 1 was called into action again after Che Adams left Gabriel for dead, but the German goalkeeper did well to keep out the striker's goalbound effort before Southampton took a deserved 24th-minute lead.
The hosts worked the ball across the box between Ings and Ward-Prowse before the skipper fed the overlapping Walker-Peters down the right. The full back's low centre was then touched past his own 'keeper by the unfortunate Gabriel, trying to clear his lines.
The visitors were flat in the first period, only threatening once when Eddie Nketiah's clever free-kick caught the Southampton defence napping, but Gabriel Martinelli fluffed his lines when faced with just Fraser Forster to beat.
As the sun came out on the south coast after the break, Arsenal's attacking intentions grew as the visitors stirred into life, especially after Mikel Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey just before the hour-mark.
But a combination of Forster, who did well to deny Nketiah, and Ward-Prowse, who was alert enough to clear the former's shot off the line with ten minutes to go, saw Saints hold on for a trip to Molineux.
The Saints skipper once again ran the show on the south coast, as has so often been the case of late due to his eye-catching form.
The playmaker very nearly broke the deadlock after just five minutes with one of his trademark set plays - albeit not from a customary free-kick, but a corner - only for his whipped delivery to smash against the crossbar.
The England international, 26, was then inevitably involved in his team's winner midway through the first period, releasing Walker-Peters down the right, before the full-back's cross was turned into his own net by Gabriel.
Ralph Hasenhuttl: "We had in the first half I think more punch, more power. In the second half, it's always normal that the opponent gets a lift, they make a few good subs with quality and then it's still hard to defend.
"We must make the second goal. I think there was only one or two chances. I think the penalty for Longy (Shane Long) was a clear penalty for me and then you can kill the game but, as long as it's 1-0, you never know.
"But the team was very disciplined today against such a strong side. It's always important that you are against the ball very organised and I think I've seen today 11 players on the pitch that really worked hard for this cup win."
Mikel Arteta: "Really sad to be out of the competition. Congratulations to Southampton, but I'm disappointed with the way we lost the game.
"We had issues in the first half. We have to compete in these games, we have to do that better, but it's a lesson. They all tried so hard, it was intense game and Saints demand the best out of you because they are aggressive. They all tried their best.
"We are looking in the market to see what else we can do, we moved some players, we are a little bit short in one or two positions, let's see what we can do."
Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday:
"I don't know what he's doing," said the former Arsenal forward.
"They're not going to win the league. They're not going to get into the top four, I wouldn't have thought, unless they go on one of the best runs in the history of the Premier League.
"For me, this is the [competition] that made Arteta last time around. He came to Arsenal and had a great semi-final and a great final.
"Honestly, I can't believe it. This was a more important game than the midweek league game, in my opinion. They're not getting relegated and they're not getting in the top four.
"You don't really want to end up getting sixth or whatever again because then you're playing in the Europa on Thursdays and that just sets you back.
"So, for me, bad decision."
The two sides meet again at St Mary's in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, with the game kicking off at 8.15pm.
The FA Cup schedule has been confirmed, with the final set to take place at Wembley on Saturday May 15.
There will be no replays this season to help ease fixture congestion.
The draw for fifth round took place at the same time as that for the fourth round.
