Arsenal FC player ratings vs Southampton: Ben White poor and Gabriel Jesus terrible in FA Cup exit

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Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton: Ben White poor and Gabriel Jesus terrible in FA Cup exit

Gunners have now lost successive games for the first time this season

Ben White had a night to forget as Arsenal lost to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final

AFP via Getty Images

Matt Verri

2 minutes ago

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Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s.

This was the Gunners’ first match after the Carabao Cup final a fortnight ago and they once again failed to deliver, this time against Championship opposition.

Ross Stewart fired the Saints in front in the first-half, before Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to fire in from close range and equalise.

However, with five minutes of normal time remaining, Shea Charles found the bottom corner to send Southampton to Wembley.

Matt Verri was at St Mary’s to rate the Arsenal players...

Kepa Arrizabalaga 4

Sat down far too easily when Scienza ran through - lucky to be bailed out by Mosquera. Rushed a couple of poor clearances and again did not inspire any real confidence. Did not get close to the two goals.

Ben White 3

Made a complete mess of the cross for Southampton’s opener, jumping under it. Almost miraculous he avoided a booking in the second half. Got into decent positions on the overlap but final ball was lacking.

Cristhian Mosquera 6

Superb defending to get back and clear after Kepa was rounded. Great clearing header to stop deny Stewart just after half-time too. But sloppier after the break and fortunate to not be punished.

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Gabriel 6

Very pumped up early on and made a couple of big blocks, but his massively misjudged header nearly gifted Saints a goal. Brilliant pass through to Havertz brought about Arsenal’s equaliser.

Myles Lewis-Skelly 4

Exposed defensively with his positioning, kept getting caught up the pitch. Loose on the ball too - shoved off it on one occasion, booted a pass straight out on another. Rare chance to start and failed to deliver.

Christian Norgaard 4

Had to try and hold down the midfield by himself, which he could not do in the first half. Safe enough in possession but Arsenal needed more than that. Most touches but few of them meaningful.

Martin Odegaard 5

Ran the show in spells during the first-half but wasted a massive chance when scuffing wide. Poor backheel ultimately led to Southampton’s goal too. Influence faded and replaced on the hour mark.

Kai Havertz 5

Not enough offered defensively to help in midfield and largely ineffective on the ball, until he made the run in behind and picked out Gyokeres to level. Still looks a fair way off full sharpness.

Max Dowman 7

Did not stop trying. Two defenders booked for hauling him down. Three shots on target, one of them a great curling effort that was tipped behind. Constant threat deserved more from his team-mates.

Bright spark: Max Dowman

AFP via Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus 3

Terrible. Should have been fresh after two weeks off but had no impact at all. Does not offer a presence up front and there’s no cutting edge on the ball. Hooked after an hour - last minutes of the season?

Gabriel Martinelli 5

Deserved an assist when beating his man on the outside and putting it on a plate for Odegaard. Should have been quicker to pass at times and decision-making was really poor too often.

Substitutes:

Viktor Gyokeres (Jesus 60’) 7

Big impact when in the perfect position to equalise soon after coming on. That was pretty much the only time he saw the ball.

Noni Madueke (Odegaard 60’) 4

Surprise inclusion in the squad after injury on international duty. Had a chance in stoppage-time but blasted it wide.

Riccardo Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 60’) 3

Played Scienza onside for shot that hit the bar and nearly made it 2-0. All over the place when turned for Southampton’s late winner.

William Saliba (Gabriel 73’) 4

Did not get the rest Arteta would have wanted. Weak for Southampton’s second - easy to imagine Gabriel would have got himself in the way.

Martin Zubimendi (Havertz 79’) 4

His introduction a sign that Arteta wanted more control but he had no influence on the game.

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