The FA Cup quarter-final between Southampton and Arsenal takes place on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at St Mary’s Stadium. Second-tier Southampton, in superb form under young German coach Tonda Eckert, host Premier League leaders Arsenal in what promises to be an intriguing cup tie. Arsenal are heavy favourites, but the in-form Saints could make it difficult.
Southampton’s incredible turnaround
Since Tonda Eckert took over as interim coach in November 2025 and was appointed permanently in December, Southampton have been one of the form teams in England. The 33-year-old German has led them to a strong unbeaten run (around 13-14 games across competitions) and guided them to 7th place in the Championship with 63 points from 39 matches, firmly in the play-off hunt for promotion back to the Premier League.
Defensively much tighter, dangerous on the counter, and boosted by a 1-0 win over Premier League Fulham in the previous round, the Saints head into this clash full of confidence. However, with a crucial league game against Wrexham midweek, rotation is possible. Key midfielder Flynn Downes is suspended, but Brazilian winger Léo Scienza is expected to return from injury, while on-loan Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz has been a standout.
Arsenal chasing a historic treble
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal sit top of the Premier League, have reached the Champions League quarter-finals, and remain strong favourites to lift the FA Cup. A potential treble is still alive, though they must recover from their recent League Cup final loss to Manchester City. Several players had minor issues during the international break, but Martin Ødegaard and Jurrien Timber are in contention to return. Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Piero Hincapié are sidelined. Arteta is likely to rotate with the first leg against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League coming on Tuesday.
How to watch Southampton vs Arsenal live
• Kick-off time: 3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST (UK) on Saturday, April 4, 2026
• Venue: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
• TV & Streaming: In the US, the match is live on ESPN+ (ESPN Select). In the UK, it is broadcast free-to-air on BBC One (coverage from 7:30 PM) and on TNT Sports. Live streams are also available via BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports/HBO Max, and official club apps. Check local listings for other countries (e.g., SonyLIV in India, Stan Sport in Australia).
Prediction
Southampton’s momentum and home support could make this closer than expected, but Arsenal’s superior quality should prevail. Southampton 1-2 Arsenal.