Arsenal vs Southampton: Match Preview, Injury News and Arteta Updates

Arsenal will visit Southampton for an FA Cup quarter-final clash on April 4, 2026, at St Mary’s, as Mikel Arteta manages a significant injury list and strategic player rotation. The Gunners are seeking a return to Wembley after their recent defeat in the EFL Cup final, while attempting to maintain their momentum in a season where a treble remains a viable objective.

The match follows a challenging period for Arsenal, who suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. That loss, characterized by a lack of clinical finishing and the absence of key players, has left the squad looking for a fresh start in the FA Cup. Despite the cup disappointment, Arsenal remain nine points clear at the summit of the Premier League.

Injury Crisis and Squad Availability

Mikel Arteta is facing a depleted squad heading into the weekend. Several players have been ruled out, while others are managing various knocks following the international break.

Mikel Merino is confirmed to be out for the remainder of the season following foot surgery performed at the start of the year. Eberechi Eze is also unavailable due to a calf injury sustained during a match against Bayer Leverkusen. Eze, who missed the Carabao Cup final, is expected to remain sidelined for a significant portion of April.

Noni Madueke is likely to miss the fixture after sustaining a knee injury while on international duty with England. Captain Martin Ødegaard has also spent time on the sidelines with a knee injury, though there is hope for his imminent return.

Further complicating the selection process, several key defenders and attackers are dealing with knocks, including Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapié, and Leandro Trossard.

Strategic Rotations and International Withdrawals

Beyond the injury list, Arteta is expected to rotate his starting XI to preserve key players for a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP, scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lisbon. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Martín Zubimendi are likely to be rested for the trip to Southampton.

The volume of Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty leading up to this fixture has drawn scrutiny. During a press conference ahead of the match, Arteta defended the players’ commitment to their national teams.

I think when a player is fit and available, they have to play, and I think it makes us so proud that we have that many players in the national team. The players are desperate to play with the national team, and we know how important every time that they are together and the time that they spend in preparation means to them.

Mikel Arteta

Arteta specifically mentioned his positive relationship with England manager Thomas Tuchel, noting that communication regarding the state of players like Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice was clear.

Road to the Quarter-Finals

Arsenal reached this stage of the competition following a 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town in the fifth round. The Gunners have a strong recent record in this tournament. they have won the FA Cup on each of the last four occasions they reached the semi-finals. Their last exit at the quarter-final stage occurred during the 2015-16 campaign against Watford.

Southampton enters the clash in strong form, having advanced to the quarter-finals after a 1-0 win over Fulham in the previous round.

The result on April 4 will determine whether Arsenal can secure a place in the final four and keep their hopes of a domestic and European treble alive, or if the current injury crisis and recent domestic cup struggles will hinder their progress.