Arsenal vs Southampton: Team News, Predicted Lineup and Arteta Updates
- Arsenal travel to St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, April 4, 2026, to face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
- Arsenal's hopes of winning four trophies in a single season concluded under the Wembley arch, where Manchester City reclaimed the EFL Cup with a 2-0 victory.
- Mikel Arteta is expecting the return of Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined since February 22 due to a knee injury.
Arsenal travel to St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, April 4, 2026, to face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match, scheduled for 8:00 PM BST, represents a critical step in the Gunners’ pursuit of a treble after their ambitions for a quadruple were ended in the EFL Cup final.
Arsenal’s hopes of winning four trophies in a single season concluded under the Wembley arch, where Manchester City reclaimed the EFL Cup with a 2-0 victory. Nico O’Reilly scored a quickfire second-half double to defeat a side missing Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze. Despite that setback, the Gunners remain nine points clear at the summit of the Premier League and are preparing for a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal Squad Updates and Injury News
Mikel Arteta is expecting the return of Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined since February 22 due to a knee injury. The midfielder is expected to be included in the squad for the trip to Southampton. Jurrien Timber, who missed the previous two matches with a groin injury, could also return to action.
However, the squad remains depleted in other areas. Noni Madueke is unavailable after sustaining an injury while on international duty with England. While Arteta noted that the injury was not as severe as a previous six-week spell on the sidelines, the winger will miss the quarter-final. Both Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie have also been ruled out of the match.
The Gunners have faced a significant personnel challenge following the international break, with up to 10 players withdrawing from duty due to fitness concerns or injuries. According to reporting from the London Standard, key figures including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi are expected to be rested for the fixture. This opens the door for Max Dowman to potentially earn a start.
Regarding the injury to Noni Madueke, Arteta stated:
It looked really bad. Noni was really worried, especially after what happened in his other knee a few weeks out and he was out for six weeks. But no, it’s nowhere near that injury. That was really good news.
Mikel Arteta
When asked if Madueke could return within a matter of days, Arteta responded, I think so.
Southampton Form and Absences
Southampton enters the clash in strong form, currently contending for the playoffs in the Championship. The Saints are unbeaten in their last 14 matches across all competitions, securing 11 victories during that span. They reached the quarter-finals by defeating Fulham 1-0 in the fifth round.
The Championship side will be missing Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki, both of whom are suspended for the match. Southampton last won the FA Cup in 1976, while Arsenal are the record 14-time winners of the competition.
Competition Context and Outlook
Arsenal have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since their last tournament victory in the 2019-20 season. Statistically, the Gunners have a strong record at this stage; they have won the FA Cup on each of the last four occasions they progressed to the semi-finals.
The last time Arsenal fell at the quarter-final stage was during the 2015-16 campaign in a match against Watford. With a place in the semi-finals and a return to Wembley at stake, Arteta’s side looks to leverage their squad depth against a resilient Southampton team.
Predicted lineups from Sports Illustrated suggest a 4-2-3-1 formation for Arsenal, featuring Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal and Cristhian Mosquera at right-back.