Southampton vs Arsenal: Team News and Predicted Lineups

Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of the Southampton vs Arsenal FA Cup quarter-final at St Mary’s. The home team has recovered after a terrible start to the season and currently sits one point outside the play-off places, under the guidance of head coach Tonda Eckert.

Before the international break, Arsenal lost 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, but still remain in the Champions League, and are in pole position in the Premier League. A win for Mikel Arteta’s side will keep their treble hopes alive.

FA Cup: Team News and Predicted Lineups for Southampton vs Arsenal

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026

Venue: St Mary’s Stadium

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Last meeting: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal (May 25, 2025).

Referee: Sam Barrott

Current odds: Arsenal 1/3, Southampton 6/1, Draw 4/1.

Southampton Team News

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert will be without the suspended duo Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki. Following the international break, like many, Eckert will need to watch the “load” of certain players, including Finn Azaz, Ryan Manning and Shea Charles.

Leo Scienza and Ross Stewart are back in training, while Jack Stephens’ ankle swelling is improving “every day.”

Eckert also spoke about the pressure of the game and said: “All of the pressure is on us, and it needs to be. I think if you want to win a game of football, the pressure is always on you. It’s for us to take that as it comes and make sure we play a good game.”

Arsenal Team News

In his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked if there are any players not available after international duty: “You will see, I will continue the speculation so you can do it and you can judge it afterwards, if what I say was right or you have to maybe change and delete and write something else,” said the Gunners boss.

“We are in a position now that we are going to make the strongest line-ups and decisions that we possibly can to win every competition. We are two or three games away in the FA Cup and we know how important that competition is for us,” added Arteta.

When asked if Noni Madueke’s injury was as bad as it looked, Arteta said:

“No, it’s not. It looked really bad, and Noni was really worried especially after what happened to him in his other knee a few weeks ago and he was out for six weeks. But no, he’s nowhere near that injury, so that was really good news.”

When asked if he would be missing for only days, Arteta said: “I think so.”

Discussing the availability of Eberechi Eze, the Arsenal manager said: “Ebz is out; with Ebz I cannot put a finger on it because I don’t know, because he’s a special character.”

On Martin Zubimendi and Jurrien Timber, Arteta said: “Those are in contention to possibly be in the squad.”

Southampton Predicted Lineup

Peretz
Bree
Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Quarshie
Manning
Bragg
Jander
Charles
Fellows
Azaz
Larin

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Kepa
White
Mosquera
Gabriel
Lewis-Skelly
Norgaard
Odegaard
Havertz
Dowman
Jesus
Martinelli