Gary Lineker explains 'signal of panic' after Arsenal's nightmare FA Cup exit to Southampton

Jack Otway
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:09:45 +0000

Gary Lineker has described Arsenal's decision to withdraw 11 players from international duty as a "signal of panic" in the wake of their shock FA Cup quarter-final exit against Southampton.

The former Tottenham and Barcelona forward made the comments on The Rest Is Football podcast after the Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Championship outfit on Saturday evening.

"It's obviously easier in hindsight after they've lost, but I thought there was a slight signal of panic at Arsenal after the City game when they withdrew so many players," Lineker said.

He noted that most of those who pulled out of international commitments went on to feature at St Mary's, questioning whether such a move demonstrated anxiety rather than composure.

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The defeat at St Mary's came courtesy of a dramatic late winner from Shea Charles, who struck just five minutes from the final whistle to send the Saints through to the semi-finals.

Arsenal's loss on the south coast marked their second successive defeat across all competitions, following their Carabao Cup final reverse against Manchester City prior to the international break.

The consecutive setbacks have effectively ended any prospect of the north London club achieving an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Among those who withdrew from international fixtures were Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard, both of whom had recovered sufficiently to start against Southampton.

These back-to-back losses represent the first tangible evidence that pressure may be affecting Mikel Arteta's squad as they pursue their first silverware in six years.

Alan Shearer offered a different perspective on the situation, expressing sympathy for the players' decision to skip international matches.

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"I totally understand why they all pulled out because they are on the brink of history, Arsenal. And still could be," Shearer said, emphasising that the club remains in contention for both the Premier League and Champions League.

The former England captain pointed to genuine injury concerns, noting that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were unavailable for the Southampton fixture.

However, Shearer identified a more fundamental problem with the performance itself.

"Southampton wanted it more than Arsenal did, and that would be a worrying sign for me because I don't care who you are and what players you play, you can't turn the form on and off like that," he said.

Lineker acknowledged that Arsenal have endured a difficult fortnight but stopped short of declaring a full-blown crisis.

"It's been a tough two weeks for Arsenal," he said. "People are asking if they're panicking or if it's a crisis, it's definitely a little wobble."

The broadcaster expressed concern about Gabriel, who departed the Southampton match with ice on his knee, describing him as a potential "big miss" if sidelined.

Despite the recent stumbles, Lineker remains optimistic about Arsenal's title prospects, noting their nine-point advantage over City and their place in the Champions League last eight.

"I'm pretty confident they will win the league," he concluded, adding that winning a competition they have never claimed would represent "an enormous bonus."