Arsenal’s quadruple hopes end after two cup defeats
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- Arsenal were eliminated from the FA Cup after Southampton’s Shea Charles scored an 85th‑minute winner, overturning Ross Stewart’s opener and Viktor Gyokeres’s equaliser.
- Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City, their first major‑trophy final defeat in six years.
- Arsenal endured back‑to‑back defeats for the first time this season, their fifth loss overall, ending their quadruple‑bid hopes.
- Mikel Arteta pledged to give the squad clarity, conviction and trust while urging them to maintain speed, attitude and energy to avoid a slump.
- Theo Walcott warned of “nervous energy” and “too many cooks in the kitchen” on the touchline, suggesting internal pressure beyond the on‑field performance.
- Injuries and international‑call‑up withdrawals forced seven lineup changes, with key players such as Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard absent for the Southampton match.
- Kepa Arrizabalaga remained Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper over regular starter David Raya despite criticism after the Carabao Cup final.
Why it matters: The defeats strip Arsenal of any chance at a season‑long trophy haul, jeopardising the return on their £250 million summer investment and tightening the Premier League title race, while Manchester City gain momentum ahead of their April clash and intensifying pressure on manager Mikel Arteta to deliver results.
