15 mins: Kai Havertz is caught with a lunging leg from Caspar Jander and moans to the referee about the challenge.

Arsenal are awarded a free kick but it’s a delayed reaction from the official and that annoys the Saints’ fans.

There are loud cheers when a simple pass from Martin Odegaard gives the ball away.

12 mins: A couple of corners from the Gunners result in a couple of half-chances.

Saints keep them out but they struggled with Arsenal’s set piece setup (as have many of the Premier League sides this year).

The Gunners are starting to assert themselves on the game and control possession.

9 mins: Leo Scienza earlier cut inside Gabriel and danced into the box before going to ground. The Saints fans wanted a penalty but were denied by the referee.

That incident has buoyed them on though with Arsenal tasked to silence the crowd.

Gabriel Martinelli is fed the ball and sweeps forward on the left. He cuts inside and takes a shot but the effort is deflected behind for a corner.

6 mins: Arsenal are being played off the park at the minute with Southampton looking very comfortable.

They’re quick on the break and getting in behind Arsenal’s high line.

Southampton are wearing a yellow kit today in honour of their previous victory in this competition back in 1976.

Will it bring them luck in this one today?

Arsenal get the ball rolling at St. Mary’s.

Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports: “It’s always challenging, but the good thing is I’m picking a team to be in Wembley if we win today.

“We’ll be driven by excitement and the boys really want to play immediately after that final and today we have another opportunity, that’s the beauty of football.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has more goal involvements than any other player in the FA Cup this season from the third round (5 – 4 goals, 1 assist), while each of his last six goal involvements in the competition have come against lower-league opponents.

Tonda Eckert has won all three of his FA Cup games as Southampton manager, and could become only the third manager to win his first four with the Saints in the competition, after George Goss in 1925 and Alan Pardew in 2009-10

Arsenal have progressed from 14 of their last 16 FA Cup quarter-final ties, going out only in 2010-11 to Manchester United and 2015-16 to Watford in this time.

Mikel Arteta vowed to use the “fuel” of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City as a springboard to glory this season.

Arsenal’s quadruple dreams were dashed by a disappointing 2-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley 12 days ago.

However, the Gunners are still nine points clear in the Premier League title race and they will face Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday.