Arsenal Eye Wembley Return in FA Cup Quarter-Final Against Southampton
Arsenal face Southampton on Saturday in the FA Cup quarter-final, their sixth meeting in the competition. The Gunners have historically had the upper hand, progressing from four of the previous five ties, though the Saints claimed the most recent victory in 2020/21.
Arsenal come into the clash buoyed by consecutive wins over Southampton in recent meetings across all competitions. The Gunners last managed three straight victories against the Saints back in February 2004, a run of four successive wins.
Their FA Cup pedigree remains strong, having advanced from 45 of their last 48 ties against sides outside the Premier League. Southampton, meanwhile, have struggled at this stage, losing each of their last five quarter-finals against top-flight opponents.
Speaking on the importance of the fixture, Mikel Arteta emphasized the weight of the competition.
“Huge competition, so related to the history of our football club. We’re going to play a team that is in a really good moment, they have won so many games recently, they’re in a really good moment. You know the expectations, the crowd, the environment that they are going to create, so we are ready for that, and we want to be at Wembley again, so tomorrow we have the opportunity to do that again,’ Arteta said.
On facing an in-form Southampton, who famously lifted the FA Cup 50 years ago, Arteta added that ‘that’s the magic of the FA Cup, that every scenario, every context, every game, has a history. This one is a special one and we are ready to face that on Saturday.”
