Arsenal stunned by Saints as Liverpool get stuffed by City

Summary of Arsenal stunned by Saints as Liverpool get stuffed by City

by The Athletic

56m•April 5, 2026
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Overview of Arsenal stunned by Saints as Liverpool get stuffed by City

This episode of The Athletic’s Totally Football Show (hosted by James Richardson with Tom Williams and Daniel Storey) reviews a dramatic Easter/FA Cup weekend: a wild extra‑time penalty shootout at the London Stadium (West Ham v Leeds), Southampton’s shock FA Cup win over Arsenal, Manchester City’s 4–0 demolition of Liverpool (Haaland hat‑trick), Chelsea’s 7–0 rout of Port Vale, and wider EFL/Championship storylines (Millwall’s promotion push, Roy Hodgson’s Bristol City return, Lincoln’s rise). The show mixes match analysis, tactical notes, player/manager developments and what these results mean for the run‑in.

Key match round‑up and takeaways

  • West Ham 2–2 Leeds (Leeds won on penalties)

    • Classic FA Cup thriller: 3+ hours from kick‑off to finish, 40+ shots, lengthy stoppage and extra time.
    • Young goalkeeper Finlay Herrick (West Ham) made headlines: first senior minutes, saved the first penalty in the shootout but ultimately saw West Ham lose.
    • Leeds reach the semi‑finals and will face Chelsea; their cup run is historic (first semi since 1987) but comes with injury concerns (key players left on crutches / went off injured).

  • Southampton 2–1 Arsenal (FA Cup)

    • Championship side Southampton upset Arsenal at St Mary’s — Southampton organised, direct, and clinical on long balls/transition.
    • Arsenal controlled territory and possession but struggled to create clear chances in open play; substitutes briefly helped but Arsenal were picked off late.
    • Consequences: Arsenal are out of the FA Cup, have admirers nervous despite still being favorites for the Premier League; Arteta’s public emphasis on “fire/heart” was questioned as a solution to a chance‑creation problem.
    • Injuries/absences compounded the issue (several high‑profile players missing from Arsenal’s squad).

  • Manchester City 4–0 Liverpool

    • Erling Haaland scored a hat‑trick; City’s performance suggested Guardiola has found a new useful tactical balance: a deeper midfield presence enabling more control and space for the forwards.
    • City looked reminiscent of earlier peak Guardiola teams at moments and appear to have integrated recent signings well.
    • Liverpool looked fragile; defensive errors (notably from Virgil van Dijk) and a collective drop in intensity left serious questions about their form and structure going into the final weeks and Europe.

  • Chelsea 7–0 Port Vale

    • A huge cup scoreline underlines Chelsea’s attacking potential, but off‑field/locker‑room issues surfaced: Enzo Fernández was dropped for two games for “crossing a line” as the club sought to “protect culture.” The incident and agent involvement have added friction.

Tactical & player notes

  • Erling Haaland (Man City)

    • Movement and finishing again decisive; created and exploited space between defenders (exposed Van Dijk repeatedly).

  • Manchester City tactical tweak

    • Guardiola appears to have rebalanced midfield roles (a deeper play‑controller alongside Rodri) to allow attacking players more freedom — this helped territorial dominance and fluid attacking interplay.

  • Liverpool concerns

    • Defensive lapses, Van Dijk mistakes, and Liverpool’s drop in basic intensity were highlighted. Squad and contract issues at centre‑back remain a long‑term worry.

  • Arsenal and player form

    • Arsenal’s reliance on set pieces and lack of chance creation in open play were recurring themes. Ben White endured a difficult week (criticism/booing), and Arteta’s messaging about “desire” looked mismatched to the technical/creative problems.

  • Finn Herrick (West Ham)

    • A memorable debut cameo and penalty save in a high‑pressure shootout — likely to be loaned for senior minutes but already a narrative moment.

  • Chelsea discipline

    • The club’s decision to punish a senior player for comments/behaviour (Enzo Fernández) reflects tensions in a complex dressing room management situation.

FA Cup semi‑finals and immediate fixtures to watch

  • FA Cup semis: Leeds vs Chelsea; Manchester City vs Southampton.
  • Key upcoming matches mentioned:
    • Arsenal’s Premier League fixture vs Bournemouth (coming after the Southampton cup upset) — seen as a potential barometer for Arsenal’s resilience.
    • Champions League midweek ties relevant to form checks: PSG vs Liverpool; Arsenal vs Sporting CP; Barcelona vs Atletico.
    • Championship/EFL fixtures: Wrexham vs Southampton (big playoff/relegation implications), Coventry’s promotion run, Millwall’s fixtures as they push for automatic promotion.

Championship & Football League highlights

  • Millwall

    • Surprising automatic promotion candidates — solid, resilient team with momentum; Ipswich’s games in hand are the only real threat. Promotion would be a rare and seismic payday for the club and Premier League diversity.

  • Coventry

    • Continued strong form; near automatic promotion (need only a few points from remaining games).

  • Lincoln City

    • Overachieving in League One on a small budget, managed by Michael Skubala — pushing for promotion to the Championship and providing a feel‑good story.

  • Roy Hodgson

    • Came out of retirement at 78 to manage Bristol City and won his first game; headline grabbing and stabilising influence.

Notable quotes & framing

  • On Arsenal: Arteta’s repeated line “we need fire/heart/poison in my tummy” contrasted with analysis that Arsenal’s problem is more technical (chance creation) than effort.
  • On the West Ham–Leeds tie: the game exemplified FA Cup theatre — swings of emotion, mass exodus of fans missing extra time, and late heroics/heartbreak.
  • On Chelsea: manager Liam Rosenior’s comment about “protecting culture” after disciplinary action underlines the sensitivity around squad unity and senior players’ public comments.

Main implications and what to watch next

  • Manchester City: confidence high; treble hopes alive if they maintain form.
  • Arsenal: still in title contention but cup exits and visible fragility create nerves — upcoming league run crucial.
  • Liverpool: alarm bells over defence and mentality; Champions League tie vs PSG will be a key litmus test.
  • Chelsea: big performances on the pitch but simmering off‑field issues could destabilise progress.
  • Championship/EFL: several clubs (Millwall, Coventry, Wrexham, Lincoln) are shaping compelling narratives — the promotion race and playoff picture remain intriguing.

Quick summary — episode essentials

  • Most talked about moments: West Ham v Leeds epic (extra time & penalties), Saints’ shock over Arsenal, Haaland’s hat‑trick in City’s 4–0 win vs Liverpool, Chelsea’s 7–0 thrashing of Port Vale.
  • Themes: FA Cup drama, tactical adjustments at City, Arsenal’s creative problems vs confidence/expectation gap, Liverpool’s worrying decline, football‑league underdog stories.
  • Recommended to-watch fixtures next: FA Cup semis (Leeds v Chelsea, City v Southampton), Arsenal v Bournemouth (league), PSG v Liverpool (UCL), Championship key matches (Wrexham v Southampton; Millwall run‑in).

This episode is a mix of match reports, tactical reading, transfer/selection fallout and EFL storytelling — useful to anyone who wants a compact but nuanced recap of a dramatic weekend in English football.