Shea Charles scored five minutes from fulltime as second-tier side Southampton stunned Arsenal with a 2-1 victory in their FA Cup quarter-final at St Mary’s on Saturday on a night they remembered a famous victory in the competition 50 years ago.
Southampton took the lead on 35 minutes through Ross Stewart, but Arsenal were level midway through the second half when Viktor Gyokeres equalised. The Premier League leaders looked the most likely winners from there.
But when the home side launched a counter-attack on 85 minutes, they did so with numbers and Tom Fellows fed Charles in the box for him to poke the ball past goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Southampton, who wore a special yellow commemorative jersey to mark 50 years since their 1976 FA Cup final win over Manchester United, join Manchester City and Chelsea in the semi-finals.
West Ham United host Leeds United in the last of the quarter-finals on Sunday.
The result heaped more misery on Arsenal, who were defeated in the League Cup final by Manchester City in their last match, and now bow out of a competition they have won a record 14 times.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert extended his unbeaten run to 15 games in all competitions. Although his side had to soak up long periods of Arsenal pressure, they deserved their victory.
They might have hit the front when Leo Scienza was through on goal with just goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to beat, but as he delayed his shot, Cristhian Mosquera was able to dispossess him of the ball.
Southampton did take the lead after a horror moment at the back for Arsenal defender Ben White. A simple aerial cross from James Bree was missed by White and fell perfectly for Stewart to collect and fire past Kepa.
Southampton came close to a second when Scienza’s dipping shot from the left-hand side of the box hit the top of the crossbar.
But Arsenal were back level on 68 minutes as substitute Viktor Gyokeres side-footed into the net from 10 yards after a fine run from Kai Havertz teed-up the chance.
They looked the most likely to go on and win it, but with the clock running down, a quick break from Southampton created the chance for Charles, who could not miss from 12 yards.