Nightmare Easter Weekend: Arsenal knocked out of the FA Cup twice in 24 hours

Last Updated on 5 April 2026

It has been a weekend to forget for Arsenal, with both their men’s and women’s sides dumped out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage within the space of a single day.

Back-to-back cup exits in under 24 hours has left the club reeling and raised serious questions about where this season is ultimately heading.

The two defeats paint a painful picture of an Easter weekend gone badly wrong and for an Arsenal fanbase that dared to dream of Wembley glory on two fronts, the cup dream is now well and truly over.

Arsenal lose to Southampton in shock upset at St Mary’s

Saturday’s defeat at St Mary’s was no ordinary cup exit. Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by a Championship side in Tonda Eckert’s Southampton. Substitute Shea Charles firing the decisive late goal to send the Saints to Wembley.

It might not rank on the all-time great FA Cup upsets, given Southampton’s recent form, but it’s still a shock result.

For the Premier League leaders, it was a second cup elimination in the space of a fortnight. This follows their 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, a result that already felt like a missed opportunity.

The timing could hardly be more ominous. While Arsenal were crashing out at Southampton, City were dismantling Liverpool at the Etihad. Erling Haaland hit a hat-trick as they won 4-0 booking another Wembley semi-final.

City look ominously sharp. Arsenal, by contrast, look vulnerable. With the title race far from settled, Gunners fans will be watching the league table with growing unease.

Arsenal Women’s side complete nightmare after exit to Brighton

Less than 24 hours later, the pain doubled. Arsenal’s women took to the pitch at Meadow Park as favourites, yet Brighton were the ones celebrating come full-time. A 2-0 defeat sent the Seagulls into the semi-finals and left Arsenal empty-handed.

That stings particularly hard given the women’s side had lost just once in their previous ten fixtures, as per Sky Sports. They had momentum, home advantage, and expectation on their side. None of it mattered.

For Arsenal supporters, this Easter weekend has delivered a double gut-punch, two teams, two competitions, and not a single Wembley date to show for it.