Southampton 2-1 Arsenal Player Ratings: Daniel Peretz Heroics Fire Southampton Into FA Cup Semi-Finals as Saints Stun Arsenal

Championship side Southampton produced one of the Emirates FA Cup's great upsets, defeating Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-1 at a noisy St Mary's Stadium to book their place in the semi-finals. Ross Stewart broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, poking home after Ben White's misjudgement gifted him an easy chance. Arsenal responded well and found their leveller through Viktor Gyokeres in the 68th minute. Still, the night took a worrying turn moments later when Gabriel was forced off with a knee injury, replaced by William Saliba. This blow could have significant consequences with the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP just days away.

Southampton FC never let Arsenal's equaliser shake their belief, and the decisive moment arrived in the 85th minute when substitute Shea Charles collected a sublime Tom Fellows pass and calmly slid the ball into the bottom-left corner to send St Mary's into chaos. Arsenal threw everything at Southampton in the dying minutes, but Tonda Eckert's side held firm with extraordinary composure to complete a famous victory. It was a performance that summed up everything about this remarkable Saints side: disciplined, direct, dangerous, and relentless until the final whistle. Here are Sportsdunia's Southampton vs Arsenal player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Southampton's 14-game unbeaten run is now 15, and they have eliminated two Premier League sides, Fulham and Arsenal, in the same FA Cup campaign while playing outside the top flight, something the club hasn't done since their famous trophy-winning run in 1976.
• Arsenal's injury-hit squad was exposed, with Gabriel going off hurt in the 72nd minute and key absentees like Saka, Rice, Timber, and Eze all missing, raising serious concerns ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP on Tuesday.
• Shea Charles delivered the defining moment of the tie, scoring for the second consecutive game after netting just twice in his previous 64 appearances, proof of the extraordinary confidence running through Eckert's dressing room right now.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Southampton

Check out the Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6.0: A difficult evening for the Spanish keeper. He made a couple of saves but looked vulnerable on the goals he conceded. We noticed he was a little slow to react to the winner. His distribution was okay, but he didn't inspire confidence.

Defenders

Cristhian Mosquera - 6.0: He was tidy in possession, with a high pass completion rate. However, being part of a defense that conceded twice and making an error that led to a shot is not a good look. He seemed to struggle with Southampton's physicality at times.

Ben White - 5.5: A day to forget for White. His error leading to a goal was the turning point that put Arsenal on the back foot. Committing five fouls shows he was having a tough time.

Gabriel Magalhães - 6.5: Was arguably Arsenal's most solid defender before his unfortunate injury. He won his duels and was composed on the ball. The defense certainly missed his presence after he was substituted in the 72nd minute.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6.5: A decent performance from the youngster. He showed good energy down the flank and contributed to the attack. Defensively, he held his own and didn't make any glaring errors.

Midfielders

Martin Ødegaard - 7.5: The Arsenal captain was the best player on the pitch for the Gunners while he was on. He created three chances and was a constant thorn in Southampton's side. We were genuinely surprised when he was substituted; it felt like a mistake.

Gabriel Martinelli - 7.0: A livewire throughout. He was always willing to take players on and had several shots on goal. His frustration was evident with a late yellow card. He caused problems but lacked the final product on the day.

Christian Nørgaard - 7.0: A workhorse performance in the middle of the park. He won six duels and recovered the ball effectively. His passing was crisp and kept Arsenal ticking over. A reliable and steadying presence.

Kai Havertz - 7.0: Stepped up with a crucial assist for the equalizer. He linked play well between the midfield and the attack. However, we noticed he lost possession a dozen times, which stalled some promising attacks.

Max Dowman - 7.5: This was a standout performance. He had an incredible seven shots and was a menace all evening. He forced the opposition keeper into some good saves.

Attacker

Gabriel Jesus - 6.0: A very quiet game for the Brazilian striker. He missed a couple of half-chances and never really got the better of the Southampton defenders. He looked a bit isolated before being taken off.

Substitutes

Viktor Gyökeres - 7.5: The perfect impact substitute. He came on and immediately provided the goal threat Arsenal were missing. His finish for the equalizer was pure class. He did his job perfectly.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.0: Came on for Lewis-Skelly but couldn't quite get into the rhythm of the game. He missed a late chance to be the hero.

Noni Madueke - 6.5: Added a spark of energy and creativity when he came on. He took players on and tried to make things happen.

William Saliba - 6.0: Replaced the injured Gabriel, but the defense conceded the winning goal while he was on the pitch. Didn't do much wrong personally, but it happened on his watch.

Martín Zubimendi - N/A: Came on too late to have any real impact on the proceedings.

Manager

M. Arteta - 5.5: A frustrating day for the Arsenal boss. His team had plenty of the ball but lacked a cutting edge for long periods. The substitution to bring on Gyökeres was a masterstroke, but taking off Ødegaard was a baffling decision that may have cost his team.

Southampton Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are the Southampton player ratings for the Southampton vs Arsenal fixture.

Goalkeeper

Daniel Peretz - 8.0: Our man of the match. An absolutely heroic performance. He made five massive saves to keep his team in the game. His command of his area was flawless, and he exuded a confidence that spread through the defense.

Defenders

Ryan Manning - 6.5: He had his hands full with Arsenal's wingers but stood up to the task. Made some crucial tackles and clearances. A booking for a cynical foul, but overall a solid defensive shift.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 7.0: The captain led from the front with a composed and authoritative display. He organized the backline brilliantly and made several important blocks. A true leader's performance under immense pressure.

James Bree - 7.5: A fantastic performance at both ends of the pitch. He was defensively sound, but his assist for the winning goal was a moment of pure quality. A brilliant cross that decided the match.

Nathan Wood - 7.0: He formed a rock-solid partnership with Harwood-Bellis. He was strong, determined, and made three crucial blocked shots. An unsung hero in the Southampton defense.

Midfielders

Finn Azaz - 6.5: A tireless worker in midfield. He covered a lot of ground and was crucial in breaking up Arsenal's play. His use of the ball wasn't always perfect, but his effort was undeniable.

Leo Scienza - 7.0: An absolute nuisance for the Arsenal defense. He drew five fouls, showing how difficult he was to handle. He was desperately unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork in the second half. A very lively and impressive outing.

Tom Fellows - 7.5: An excellent all-around midfield display. He got an assist and was a creative force throughout. What stood out to us was his defensive contribution, making tackles and tracking back tirelessly.

Caspar Jander - 6.5: A combative and aggressive performance. He put himself about, winning tackles and disrupting Arsenal's rhythm. Earned a yellow card for his troubles but provided the steel Southampton needed.

Cameron Bragg - 6.5: Did his job effectively before being substituted. He was tidy in possession and made three important interceptions. A quiet but efficient performance in the heart of midfield.

Attacker

Ross Stewart - 7.5: Led the line superbly. He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned striker. His physical presence caused problems for the Arsenal defense all evening. A classic number nine performance.

Substitutes

Cyle Larin - 6.5: Came on and added some fresh energy to the attack. He helped his team hold the ball up and see out the game.

Samuel Edozie - 6.0: Used his pace to win a couple of free kicks, but didn't have a major impact on the game.

Shea Charles - 8.0: The match-winner. What an incredible impact from the bench. To come on in such a high-pressure situation and score the deciding goal is the stuff of dreams. The hero of St. Mary's.

Manager

Tonda Eckert - 8.0: A tactical masterclass. His team was perfectly set up to counter Arsenal's strengths. They were disciplined, aggressive, and clinical. His substitutions were inspired, with Shea Charles scoring the winner.

Man of the Match

Daniel Peretz was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Ben White was the worst performer.