Emirates FA Cup Roundup: Arsenal shown the exit door by Southampton; Manchester City survives Cheltenham scare

Southampton succeeded in knocking out FA Cup holders Arsenal in the fourth round on Saturday after a first-half own goal by Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian’s touch on Kyle Walker-Peters’ low drive deflected the ball past Bernd Leno and into the net midway through the opening 45 minutes at St Mary’s.

It was also the first time Southampton got the better of Arsenal in the competition as the visitors conceded for the first time in over eight and a half hours of football stretching back to Boxing Day.

The result also means Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will take on Wolves at Molineux in February’s fifth-round matchup after they edged past non-league Chorley Town 1-0 on Friday night.

Mikel Arteta said after the match that: “Really sad to be out of the competition. Congratulations to Southampton, but I’m disappointed with the way we lost the game.

“We had issues in the first half. We have to compete in these games, we have to do that better, but it’s a lesson. They all tried so hard, it was intense game and Saints demand the best out of you because they are aggressive. They all tried their best.

“We are looking in the market to see what else we can do, we moved some players, we are a little bit short in one or two positions, let’s see what we can do.”

Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)

• This was Mikel Arteta’s first defeat in the FA Cup as a player or manager in 15 games (W13 D1), since featuring in Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Blackburn back in February 2013.
• Southampton have beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup for the very first time, with the Saints drawing one and losing four of their previous five matches against the Gunners in the competition.
• Southampton have eliminated the holders from the FA Cup for the first time since beating Tottenham in a replay back in February 1902. Indeed, the Saints had lost each of their previous seven FA Cup fixtures against the competition’s holders prior to today.
• This is the third time in the last four seasons that Arsenal have failed to make it to the fifth round of the FA Cup (2017-18, 2018-19 & 2020-21).
• Gabriel’s own goal was the first goal Arsenal have conceded since Tammy Abraham’s strike for Chelsea on Boxing Day, ending the Gunners’ run of 508 minutes without conceding in all competitions.

Cheltenham 1-3 Manchester City: Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus scores late on to rescue City

Cheltenham Town almost produced one of the biggest shocks in recent FA Cup history but the visiting side Manchester City staged a dramatic late rally to crush the dreams of the gallant League Two side.

The Robins threatened a huge embarrassment for Pep Guardiola’s side after Alfie May put them ahead on the hour following a trademark long throw from captain Ben Tozer that caused chaos in the area.

City, however, was spared a huge embarrassment when Phil Foden, the game’s outstanding player, turned in Joao Cancelo’s long cross 9 minutes from time.

The turnaround was then completed three minutes later when a rare moment of slackness in the outstanding Cheltenham defence allowed Gabriel Jesus the opportunity to score City’s second.

Ferran Torres added the cherry on top for Manchester City’s third with the last kick of the game as Cheltenham’s heroic efforts came to a cruel ending.

“I’m incredibly proud,” the Robins boss said of his side’s display.

“The players they brought on from the bench and they way they celebrated the goals tells you something. They know they’ve been in a game. They’ve done that to better teams than us.”

Other FA Cup results

Saturday 23rd January

• Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
• Barnsley 1-0 Norwich City
• Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 Blackpool
• Millwall 0-3 Bristol City
• Sheffield United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
• Swansea City 5-1 Nottingham Forest
• West Ham United 4-0 Doncaster Rovers
• Cheltenham Town 1-3 Manchester City