Premier League leaders Arsenal FC were surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup by a second division team. At FC Southampton, the Londoners with national player Kai Havertz lost 1:2 (0:1). Ross Stewart gave Southampton the lead in the 35th minute. The favorite ran after this deficit for a long time before Viktor Gyökeres equalized after a pass from Havertz (68th). But Shea Charles (85th) let the hosts celebrate in the end, with FC Bayern loanee Daniel Peretz guarding the goal.
Previously, Manchester City had once again stormed into the semi-finals of the English Football Cup thanks to a hat-trick from exceptional striker Erling Haaland. Even without the yellow-banned successful coach Pep Guardiola on the sidelines, the Premier League runners-up won their quarter-final against champions Liverpool FC 4-0 (2-0) in their home stadium. It was then announced that captain Bernardo Silva would be leaving City at the end of the season. Silva has been linked to FC Barcelona, Juventus and clubs from the North American MLS.
The semi-finals are completed by Chelsea FC (7-0 against third division Port Vale) and Leeds United, who can still dream of their first FA Cup victory since 1972 after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win at West Ham United.