Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals who must take responsibility after FA Cup exit

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Evening Standard

·4 avril 2026

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals who must take responsibility after FA Cup exit

Gunners have seen their quadruple dream vanish in the pace of a fortnight

Mikel Arteta refused to criticise his Arsenal players despite their shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Southampton.

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The Gunners were beaten 2-1 by the Championship side on Saturday night, thus missing out on a place at Wembley in the semi-finals later this month.

It is now back-to-back defeats for the first time this season for Arsenal, a fortnight on from their tame Carabao Cup final showing against Manchester City.

Arsenal were poor again at St Mary's, struggling almost every time Southampton countered. Ben White misjudged a cross to allow the Saints to take the lead and the defending was weak in the final minutes for Shea Charles' winner.

Arteta's side must swiftly rediscover some confidence, with a trip to Sporting in the Champions League to come on Tuesday night to come before the Premier League title run-in resumes.

The Arsenal manager was keen to emphasise the physical toll his players continue to put themselves through as he vowed to "defend them more than ever".

"I love my players," Arteta said.

"What they have done for nine months - I'm not going to criticise them because we lost a game here in the manner that they tried.

"And the way they are putting their bodies through everything. Some of them probably didn't even have to be here today. I'm not going to do that at all. I'm going to defend them more than ever.