Mikel Arteta took responsibility for Arsenal’s meek FA Cup quarter-final exit at Southampton as the Premier League leaders blew a glorious chance to return to Wembley.
A fortnight on from the disappointing Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, the absentee-hit Gunners lost to Sky Bet Championship opposition at a rocking St Mary’s on Saturday evening.
Ross Stewart fired in-form Saints ahead at the end of a move featuring Martin Odegaard and Ben White errors, with Leo Scienza hitting the crossbar before substitute Viktor Gyokeres equalised for Arsenal.
However, it is Southampton heading to Wembley later this month in the FA Cup semi-finals after Shea Charles came off the bench to seal a famous 2-1 quarter-final victory.
“Really disappointed in the manner that we lost the opportunity to get back to Wembley,” said Arsenal boss Arteta, whose side boast a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
“I love my players. 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, so I’m going to defend them more than ever.
“Someone has to take responsibility. That’s me and we have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us.
“And now is a moment. In the season, you always have moments, normally two or three. This is the first moment that we have with a certain level of difficulty.
“We’re going to say difficulty when we’re going to play the Champions League quarter-finals and the run-up for the league.
“If this is a difficult period, I believe there are many other ones that are much more difficult, so let’s stand up, make yourself comfortable and deliver like we’ve been doing all season.”
Arsenal have little time to dust themselves down after Saturday’s loss at Southampton given the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Sporting is coming up on Tuesday.
Gabriel Magalhaes looks a doubt for the trip to Lisbon after the centre-back, who withdrew from the Brazil squad with a knee issue, limped off in the second half.
“I don’t know,” Arteta said of the issue. “I think he felt something. I don’t know exactly what it is. We’re going to have to assess him. But obviously when a player asks him to be substituted, it’s not good news.”
Saints are also back in action on Tuesday, when they head to play-off rivals Wrexham buoyed by an unforgettable evening at St Mary’s.
It was the greatest victory of Tonda Eckert’s nascent coaching career and keeps alive hopes of Saints replicating Lawrie McMenemy’s second-tier side winning the FA Cup 50 years ago.
“I think the club has been craving for a moment like this for a long time,” head coach Eckert, only 33, said.
“I think that we’ve suffered over a longer spell, and it’s just so important that we get that atmosphere back to St Mary’s how it should be.
“I think today was outstanding. Not just for the generation from ’76, but also for the younger generation to be able to identify themselves with the club, with what we do. I think nights like this help a lot.”
