Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Southampton ended their FA Cup campaign, with Max Dowman and Viktor Gyokeres among the few positives on a night when Ben White and Gabriel Jesus struggled.
Arsenal’s FA Cup run ended with a damaging 2-1 defeat at Southampton, who took the lead through Ross Stewart, were pegged back by substitute Viktor Gyokeres, then won it late through Shea Charles. Ben White’s error fed into the opening goal, while Arsenal’s brighter attacking moments came largely through Kai Havertz, Gyokeres and the lively Max Dowman.
Kepa Arrizabalaga - 5/10
Not heavily worked for long stretches because Arsenal had so much of the ball, but this was still one of those cup ties where a goalkeeper needed to come up with a defining intervention. He could do little with the finish for the winner, yet the overall night passed without him making the sort of save that changes the mood of a knockout game.
Ben White - 4/10
One of Arsenal’s weakest performers. He never looked fully comfortable dealing with Southampton’s direct threat and his mistake played a major part in the opening goal. It set the tone for a difficult evening in which his final ball was also below the level Arsenal needed from a senior defender. Wider post-match reaction was similarly critical of his display.
Cristhian Mosquera - 5.5/10
Had moments where he defended his box well and stepped in to tidy up, but he was also dragged into a more physical, scrappy game than Arsenal would have wanted. Not the main culprit, though he did not bring enough authority to calm things down once Southampton sensed vulnerability.
Gabriel Magalhaes - 6/10
Probably Arsenal’s most dependable defender while he was on the pitch. He handled the aerial side of the game well enough and looked the more convincing presence at the back before being forced off. The bigger concern for Arsenal will be the injury and the image of him icing his knee after coming off, rather than the level of his performance.
Myles Lewis-Skelly - 5.5/10
Saw enough of the ball and tried to move Arsenal up the pitch, but his influence faded in key areas. There were one or two neat passages, yet he never quite imposed himself in the way Arsenal needed from a full-back against lower-league opposition sitting in and then springing forward.
Christian Norgaard - 6/10
Reasonably tidy in possession and gave Arsenal some control in midfield, but this was a game that needed more incision from central areas. He kept things moving rather than breaking lines, which made him useful without being especially influential.
Martin Odegaard - 5.5/10
A frustrating evening. There were flashes of sharp interplay, but he never truly dictated the tempo and one loose backheel in the build-up to the opening goal summed up a display that lacked precision. Arsenal needed their captain to take hold of the contest and he never quite did.
Kai Havertz - 6/10
One of Arsenal’s better players. He carried the ball with some purpose, linked play well and created the equaliser with a strong run and assist for Gyokeres. Not everything came off, but he at least looked capable of forcing the issue when others were too safe.
Max Dowman - 7.5/10
Arsenal’s brightest starter. He brought directness, energy and a willingness to attack defenders, which immediately made him stand out in a side that too often played in front of Southampton. He did not decide the tie, but he consistently looked the likeliest player to inject urgency and unpredictability. Several ratings elsewhere also placed him among Arsenal’s few positives.
Gabriel Jesus - 4.5/10
A disappointing display. He worked and moved, but without enough threat or conviction in the penalty area, and too many of Arsenal’s attacks passed him by. This felt like a night when a centre-forward had to be decisive in the box, and he was anything but.
Gabriel Martinelli - 6/10
Busy and involved, though not always clean in the final action. He had a few moments where he drove Arsenal forward and he remained one of the more dangerous runners in the side, but the end product never quite matched the intent. His late frustration also summed up an evening where Arsenal lost composure as well as the tie.
Substitutes
Viktor Gyokeres - 7/10
Did what Arsenal needed from the bench by changing the feel of the attack. Took his goal well, gave Southampton’s back line more to think about and briefly looked as though he might drag Arsenal through the tie. One of the few substitutions to make an immediate and clear impact.
Riccardo Calafiori - 5.5/10
Added some freshness but did not shift the match enough in Arsenal’s favour. Steady rather than transformative.
Noni Madueke - 5/10
Could not really find a route into the game after coming on. There was willingness to run, but little final effect.
William Saliba - N/A Introduced too late to fairly judge.
Martin Zubimendi - N/A Not enough time to leave a serious mark on the contest.