Arsenal dey travel go Southampton tonight for FA Cup quarter-final match. Dem dey look make dem bounce back from dat Carabao Cup final loss wey Manchester City give dem 2-0. The Gunners dey just one win away from Wembley again.
St Mary's Stadium go host di match for 8pm BST today, Saturday 4 April 2026. For UK, TNT Sports 1 go show di game live from 7.30pm. BBC One sef go broadcast am free to air. If you get TNT Sports subscription, you fit watch am for HBO Max app or website. BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website sef go stream am live.
Southampton get wahala for team news. Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki no go play because of suspension after dem collect second yellow cards for di Fulham match. Captain Jack Stephens dey doubt after injury for training ground. But Leo Scienza fit return from groin problem. Mads Roerslev, Welington, Jay Robinson and Alex McCarthy all out.
Arsenal side sef get injury concerns. Mikel Arteta confirm say Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie no go play. William Saliba, Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber dey expected fit. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice fit rest after early return from England duty. Eberechi Eze go miss out with calf injury wey make am miss Carabao Cup final. Mikel Merino dey ruled out completely.
Arteta get big decision for goalkeeper position after Kepa Arrizabalaga mistake for cup final. Southampton dey in form – dem no lose match since January. Dem shock Fulham for round five with Ross Stewart penalty for 91st minute. But dem dey fight for Championship play-off spot, so cup fit no be priority.
Head-to-head history show Arsenal win 55 times, Southampton 33, draw 30. Arsenal beat Southampton 5-0 for January 2017 FA Cup run wey dem win trophy. But Southampton beat Arsenal 1-0 for St Mary’s five years ago for same competition.
Odds dey favour Arsenal to progress at 1/6. Southampton to progress na 4/1. Prediction dey say Arsenal go win 3-1. But Southampton form fit cause surprise.
Theo Walcott, wey play for both clubs, dey watch di match with interest. Di 37-year-old retire for 2023 after return to Southampton. Him talk say him regret how him leave Arsenal for Everton for January 2018. “I no like how I leave at night with just bin bags for my boots,” Walcott yarn. Him still hold record as England youngest player.
Walcott talk about Max Dowman, Arsenal 16-year-old talent wey don start two matches this season and score Premier League goal for March. Dowman make senior debut at 15 against Leeds. Walcott advise say Dowman no go England World Cup squad yet. “I hope him no go,” Walcott talk. “Him need grow at him own pace. England get better players wey deserve place now.”
Walcott sef reveal say Chelsea want sign am as youngster but dem “scare di s*** out of me.” Him see Gianfranco Zola and big players, but choose Southampton academy because dem no overwhelm am.
Former Arsenal and West Ham winger Luis Boa Morte talk say him really want play for Newcastle United but never happen. Di Portuguese player make 296 appearances for Fulham, West Ham and Southampton after leaving Arsenal.
Arsenal FA Cup run don easy so far – dem beat Portsmouth, Wigan and Mansfield, score ten goals, concede two. But Southampton go be toughest test yet. Saints dey sixth for Championship and no lose for 14 matches.
Di match go stir memories for Walcott and test Arsenal depth as dem chase treble. Arteta selection for Dowman and other young talents go show how dem rate cup competition. Southampton manager Tonda Eckert go want continue unbeaten run and cause upset.
Fans dey expect entertaining match as Arsenal try keep trophy hopes alive after Carabao Cup disappointment. Di atmosphere for St Mary’s go electric as Championship side face Premier League leaders. Both teams get history for FA Cup and tonight go add another chapter.
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