Southampton fans express their confidence in Tonda Eckert-led Saints to pull off a massive upset against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
After Ross Stewart buried a stoppage-time penalty at Craven Cottage, Southampton booked their place in the sixth round of the FA Cup. While the Saints’ priority remains a Premier League return this term, they would welcome any Cup progress that comes along the way.
Not only do such Cup victories continue the winning momentum, but such PL showdowns also test Southampton’s level for the Top Flight firsthand. Though the Saints passed the Fulham test with flying colours, they’ve got a far sterner exam against Premier League leaders Arsenal next.
This comes after Southampton were drawn against Arsenal for the sixth-round FA Cup clash. The club confirmed the tie, stating: “We have been drawn at home to Arsenal in the quarter-final of the @EmiratesFACup.”
For the first time in nearly a year, Southampton FC will host a Premier League side at St. Mary’s. Though up against league leaders Arsenal, fans believe in Tonda Eckert and his players to pull off a major Cupset against the Gunners.
Southampton fans confident for Arsenal draw
As Southampton walk on a 10-game winning streak under Tonda, fans have expressed complete confidence in the Saints to upset Arsenal. Despite Arsenal leading the PL table and being the favourites for a maiden UCL title, Saints fans believe a tie like this helps them much more.
One fan commented on the Southampton Vs Arsenal draw, saying, “Good draw, we’re the kind of banana peel that Arsenal tend to slip on I reckon.”
So far, Arsenal have lost only three games the whole season. However, their habit of fumbling in crucial games remains well-known to football fans worldwide.
The fact that plays in Southampton’s favour is Arsenal’s extremely busy schedule ahead. This might force Mikel Arteta to opt for a heavily rotated lineup against Southampton in an away clash.
Apart from securing the Premier League title, Arsenal have multiple commitments, including the upcoming Carabao Cup Final on 22nd March & their continued participation in the Champions League knockout stages.
Given that the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals is scheduled for 7–8 April, Mikel Arteta will likely rest his key starters for the Southampton tie on 4 or 5 April. This could allow Southampton to pull off an upset over the Gunners, much like they did against Fulham.
Southampton up for another memorable Cupset
Another fan expressed confidence in the Saints’ ability to cause major Cupsets against Big Six clubs. The supporter used an earlier Man City reference, saying: “We ended Peps quadruple, let’s end Artetas treble, or double.”
Notably, Pep Guardiola’s Man City won a historic treble in the 2022/23 campaign—the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. While that’s impressive, it could have been a quadruple had Southampton not knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in stunning fashion.
In a relegation-looming season, Southampton’s spirit stood at an all-time low. Unfazed by that, interim manager Nathan Jones delivered the most memorable game of his reign in a 2-0 win over a dominant Man City side.
This time, Saints fans are dreaming of replicating such a Cupset against Arsenal. While the Gunners are running away with the league and advancing in the UCL, a Championship side like Southampton could end their treble hopes most unexpectedly.
Another fan said he’d love to see an upset against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Though the Gunners are known worldwide for their set-piece prowess, this fan backed Southampton to outsmart them, saying: “Time to out-set-piece Set-Piece FC.”
While Arsenal are widely regarded as the best set-piece team in the Premier League, the Saints have also been exceptionally good in this department. With players like Taylor Harwood-Bellis boasting four headers from corners and Ryan Manning contributing three free-kick goals as well as several assists from corners, Southampton are themselves set-piece specialists.
This makes the quarter-final FA Cup tie between Arsenal and Southampton a contest likely to be decided by set-pieces. According to Saints fans, they have complete confidence that they will emerge as the winning side on the day.
