Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta vowed to defend his players “more than ever” after their FA Cup defeat at second-tier Southampton. The Gunners lost in the quarter-final at St Mary’s.
Arteta accepted that his side must “look in the mirror” after successive losses for the first time this season.
Saints Progress to FA Cup Semi-Final
Southampton prospered at St Mary’s to earn a place in the last four after Arsenal’s defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. Shea Charles, a second-half substitute, struck an 85th-minute winner after Viktor Gyökeres arrived from the visitors’ bench to cancel out Ross Stewart’s opener.
Southampton’s head coach, Tonda Eckert, said focus will quickly switch to Tuesday’s Championship match at Wrexham. The German, whose side have now gone 15 games unbeaten in all competitions, added that the club has been craving a moment like this for a long time.
Southampton will look forward to a first semi-final since 2021 at the end of this month.
Arteta Defends His Arsenal Squad
Arteta said he loves his players and is not going to criticise them because they lost a game. He praised the way they are putting their bodies through everything, adding that some of them probably didn’t even have to be there.
“I’m going to defend them more than ever,” Arteta stated.
Arteta made seven changes to the side defeated by City at Wembley, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Gabreil Maghalhães and Kai Havertz the only players retained from the XI. He said he doesn’t want to put any excuses around the players that are missing, or the players that are here with issues.
“Let’s look at ourselves in the mirror. Accept the situation, reveal against it, and go again to Portugal with, again, freshness, with clarity and looking forward to it.”
Gabriel Injury Concern
Arteta confirmed Gabriel would be assessed after being forced off in the second half. The Brazil centre-back, who was replaced by William Saliba, did not report for international duty last month because of a knee problem.
“I think he felt something,” Arteta said. “I don’t know exactly what it is. We’re going to have to assess him. But obviously when a player asks to be substituted, it’s not good news.”
Arteta insisted “the most beautiful period of the season” is on the horizon, with a Champions League quarter-final first leg at Sporting their next match on Tuesday.