When a country is as vast as China, the idea of it having a singular cuisine swiftly teeters into the ridiculous. So it is: going for a Chinese might mean plates from Sichuan and Hunan, blistering with numbing spice; it might mean the sweet seafood of Cantonese cooking; or perhaps the colourful precision of the sweet-and-salt of dishes from Jiangsu. It might mean high end or low; exacting or cheerily shapeless; food for bottles of beer or pots of tea. It can be, then, hard to know where to start — at the local spot on the corner, in the warren of Chinatown, or among the moneyed of Mayfair?
And so we radioed for help. Ahead of the lunar new year, some of the biggest names in Chinese cooking offer their favourites, at both the peak and foot of pricing. We’ve cut repeat mentions of a few names — A Wong, Imperial Treasure and the Royal China Club had multiple shout-outs (Filipino-born chef John Javier was at pains to mention their lobster dumplings are the best he’s ever had) — but below are London’s best Chinese restaurants, as chosen by those in the know.
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My go-to is a tiny eatery called Lucky Dog (70 Brick Lane, E1, 020 3730 2346), which serves authentic dishes from the north-eastern region of China. I usually eat here once a week with the family — the food is so comforting and the execution never fails. Skewers are a must — my favourites are the lamb and pork belly skewers and grilled chicken. Other favourites are the Guo Bao Rou, a sweet and sour crispy pork accompanied by Chinese chives or enoki mushrooms, and their signature Liang Pi — cold, glass noodles with sesame peanut sauce. Another favourite is the Mandarin Kitchen (14-16 Queensway, W2, mandarin.kitchen). Here there is a large selection of classic Cantonese dishes and they specialise in Cantonese-style seafood; the must-order item is the signature lobster, Yee Mien — I haven’t found anywhere in London that does better Cantonese lobster noodles!
I love businesses that specialise in one thing and do it really well. In China and Hong Kong, street stalls often make just one dish and have spent generations and generations to perfect it. Here, Dumpling Shack (Old Spitalfields Market, E1, dumplingshack.co.uk) is the same. Somewhere else I love is New Loon Fung (42-44 Gerrard Street, W1, 020 7437 7332). I go religiously every Sunday with my family for dim sum, and it’s nice to have food so close to Hong Kong in London. New Loon Fung is also a reference point for me; after I’ve been developing a dish for a while, I can lose sight of what it’s meant to taste like, and going back to New Loon Fung I can recalibrate myself. I’m also a massive fan of Sichuan food; my grandma was Sichuanese. I love the offal and whelk dishes at Ma La Sichaun (37 Monck Street, SW1, malasichuan.co.uk). Those kinds of dishes really exemplify a Chinese mouthfeel, the chilliness and the cartilage texture. It’s unique to what we do, and it’s good to try dishes that celebrate that.
Charlene Liu and Linda Liu, Liu Xiaomian
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We’ve visited Min Jiang (Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street, W8, minjiang.co.uk) a few times over the years for its famous Beijing duck and were impressed by its authentic taste and presentation, which is definitely a must-try for first-timers. You can have it with two servings — we usually have the duck and tofu soup as the second serving. Cafe TPT (21 Wardour Street, W1, cafetpt.com), meanwhile, is a typical Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown. What we like the most is their great value dessert menu: the signature sweet bean curd with mango and grapefruits is our all-time favourite. You can stop by and ask for takeaway, or go there during off-peak hours for a dine-in service.
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My all-time favourite Chinese restaurant in London is A Wong (70 Wilton Road, SW1, awong.co.uk), especially if I want to splurge. Why? Because it is true Chinese-London food that does not stand still. Chef Andrew Wong’s dishes are constantly evolving and changing — always for the better. His dumplings are out of this world, and Andrew makes traditional dishes his own, like his Peking duck. I also love the way he takes vegetables to extraordinary heights, so much so that I almost want to turn vegetarian. The secret at A Wong is to ask about the latest dish of the day. You will not be disappointed. Another I love is Din Tai Fung (various locations, dintaifung-uk.com), an offshoot of the famous Taipei shop in Taiwan. Here you can watch the chefs folding the famous xiao long bao, a steamed dumpling with soup inside. But the inside scoop is that everything else on the menu is also up to par. The pork chop is excellent, as are the stuffed chilli peppers, and the magical aromatic beef noodle soup. It is easy to eat your way through the menu and then return for more.
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Steven Joyce
I really enjoy how traditional Imperial Treasure’s (9 Waterloo Place, SW1, imperialtreasure.com) Cantonese flavours are and its Singaporean heritage. Try the dim sum and have it with tea, since they go well together. And I remember, after I left Beijing and came to London, Barshu (28 Frith Street, W1, barshurestaurant.co.uk) was the first place where I found the traditional citron flavour. It remains authentic. I’d recommend first-timers mention their tolerance to spicy food to the staff, since it can often be very spicy. I tend to order the Chongqing chicken and the fish with pickled vegetables.
Lee Che Liang, Park Chinois
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Hunan (51 Pimlico Road, SW1, hunanlondon.com) is fantastic because of the concept of having no menu — it takes away the pressure and chaos of ordering, and you’re left in the hands of the masters. You just say what you like and how spicy, then waves of small plates arrive at the table; we had about 18. The chilli beef and cuttlefish were outstanding. Otherwise, Xi’an Impression (117 Benwell Road, N7) might not look like much from the outside, but it’s where I like to go for authentic and typical Xi’an local food. Their hand-pulled noodles are second to none, perfectly finished with hot oil and ground chilli wrapped around the ribbons of noodles. I also have fond memories of eating with friends at Plum Valley (20 Gerrard St, W1, plumvalley.co.uk). It’s family run and puts a fun twist on classic regional dishes: always start with some fresh dim sum, while the Hong Kong-style wind shelter stir-fried whole crab is a showstopper dish that leaves us fighting over who gets the last piece.
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At the top end, the Peking duck is great at MiMi Mei Fair (55 Curzon Street, W1, mimimeifair.com) and the closest I’ve had here to the ones in Sydney and Asia. But with London’s Chinese dining scene, my heart lies with the more accessible end of the spectrum: Dim Sum Duck (124 King’s Cross Road, WC1, Instagram) used to be my favourite — when I could get a table! If you’re lucky and there’s no queue, it’s guaranteed satisfaction. Get the prawn wontons with salad cream, har gao, siu mai, roast duck and the beef flank hot pot. Still, my all-time favourite is the Old Street Chinese Restaurant (184-186 Old Street, EC1, theoldstreet.co.uk). I always order the sizzling fish fillet, twice-cooked pork belly, frog legs in an iron wok and the braised cabbage in superior broth. If you’re feeling adventurous, pork kidneys in chilli sauce and the sliced beef and ox tripe in chilli oil are also big hits.
During an in an interview with YouTube channel Avirales which was released last weekend, Fernandez was not directly asked about Real Madrid but was questioned on which city he would like to live in.
‘I’d like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid, it reminds me of Buenos Aires,’ Fernandez said.
‘Players live where they want. I’d live in Madrid. I get by in English, but I’d be more comfortable in Spanish.’
‘There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we’ll see.’
Chelsea drop Enzo Fernandez for two games
On Friday, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior confirmed that Fernandez will not be selected for his side’s FA Cup tie against Port Vale on Saturday, or their Premier League match against Manchester City next Sunday.
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‘It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way,’ Rosenior said.
‘I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build. As a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful.
‘In terms of the decision, it’s not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we are aligned in our decision.
‘The door is not closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed.’
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Enzo Fernandez posted a picture from Chelsea’s training ground on the day of the team’s FA Cup tie vs Port Vale (Instagram)
Enzo Fernandez’s agent brands decision ‘unfair’
Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, has said that the Argentina international does not understand the decision and could ‘explore other options’ this summer.
‘The punishment is completely unfair,’ Pastore told The Athletic.
‘Banning the player for two matches, which moreover are also absolutely crucial for Chelsea because qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is one of the team’s most important players.
‘There’s no real reason or justification for why he has been banned. Enzo didn’t understand the situation. When the coach told him he accepted it because he’s a highly professional guy who’s always fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions, but we don’t understand the punishment because he doesn’t mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it. He only mentions Madrid, the city.
‘Our plan after the World Cup is to meet with Chelsea again and, if there is no agreement, to explore other options.’
The restaurant serves square pizzas that you can order in half and full sizes.
An Italian restaurant in Cambridge has been named one of the best in the region. Tradizioni won the award for the best restaurant in the East of England at the UK Italian Awards 2026.
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The UK Italian awards celebrates businesses across the UK with regional awards being given out to “give the whole country a chance to shine”. Other categories included best chef, best pasta restaurant, and best tiramisu.
To win the award, Tradizioni had to register and acquire enough votes from the public to be shortlisted as a finalist. The restaurant was then visited by the award’s judges, who then decided on the winning businesses.
The Gala Final Dinner was held on Monday, March 30, in London where all of the winners were handed their awards. The evening was designed to “celebrate everything that makes us proud of our unique ties with Italy”.
Found on Mill Road, the restaurant first opened in 2014 and has made itself a staple food spot on the street. Tradizioni serves a range of traditional starts such as burrata with rocket and cherry tomatoes, bruschetta, and fritto misto.
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In terms of its main courses, the restaurant has plenty of popular pasta dishes to choose from as well as steaks, lamb chops, and fish. Tradizioni also offers pizzas but rather than the usual round shape, the pizzas are square and come in half or full sizes.
You can either book a table in the restaurant or enjoy your meal at home by ordering a takeaway. You can also order products and ingredients from the deli shop to recreate your favourite dishes from Tradizioni at home.
Reviews of Tradizioni describe the restaurant as a “beautiful place” and the food is “consistently lovely and authentically Italian”. Tradizioni can be found on Mill Road next to Sedgwick Street.
The restaurant is open from 12pm to 10pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 5pm to 10pm on Mondays.
It’s the seventh time in eight years that Cambridge have come out on top in the Men’s race
Cambridge have secured their seventh win in eight years of competing in the Men’s Boat Race against Oxford. It means the Light Blues have continued their run of recent dominance over their fierce rivals.
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But it was a different story for Cambridge in the Women’s race, who were beaten for the first time since 2016. The Light Blues have dominated over the past decade, but it was Oxford who came out on top after a blistering start.
Oxford burst into the lead from the start and maintained the place at the front all the way to the finish line. It was a closely-fought battle of strategy with Cambridge holding on right until the final few hundred metres, but it was Oxford who took victory in the rough and windy conditions.
“I’m excited that I’m not too wet,” Sammy Houdaigui, cox for Cambridge men, told Channel 4. “That was a fantastic race. All credit to Oxford and the eight rowers. We had the right athletes in the boat and I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”
Harry Geffen, for Oxford, said: “It’s mixed emotions. We’re gutted to come away with a loss. A lot of people thought we’d roll over but we gave it all we had. That’s racing.”
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He added: “It was pretty rough out there. We practiced for that, especially yesterday. Nothing quite prepares you for when you’re 12 minutes deep and questioning whether you’ll make it. We stuck in there and that’s all you can do.”
She felt really proud to hit the milestone just in time for Easter
Olivia Snoddon’s 100th Parkrun
This 10-year-old is celebrating the Easter weekend by marking a huge athletic milestone.
Olivia Snoddon, who has a personal best time at the weekly 5K in Hillsborough Forest Park, took part in her 100th Parkrun on Saturday morning.
And the Co Down schoolgirl marked the occasion in style, storming to a new personal best of 21:31 and an impressive age grading of 79.32% – her previous PB was 22.05 minutes.
Olivia told Belfast Live afterwards: “Today I ran my 100th Parkrun and I felt really proud. I love coming every week and seeing everyone, and all the volunteers are so kind.
“I’m really happy all my hard runs helped me get a PB. It felt amazing to finish today, and I’m excited to keep going and reach my next milestone.”
She started taking part in the Parkruns with her dad Steve when she was just eight years old and quickly developed a strong passion for running.
These days, Olivia is often one of the first people to arrive at the event and has progressed to the point where she is now regularly the fastest female taking part overall.
Olivia’s dedication has also been recognised at a regional level, having recently qualified for the Northern Ireland Athletics Junior Cross Country Endurance Squad. She is also a proud member of Lagan Valley Athletics Club minis.
Speaking to Belfast Live ahead of Saturday, dad Steve said the family are all very proud of Olivia and her achievements: “We’re incredibly proud of Olivia. To reach 100 Parkruns at just 10 years old is a fantastic achievement, but more than that, it’s her attitude.
“She genuinely loves running, is always up early and ready to go, and gives it everything every single week.”
Today, Nasa has launched its first crewed mission around the Moon for more than 50 years.
The Artemis II mission will last about 10 days and take its astronauts further into space than anyone has been before. The four-person crew will not land on the Moon but will circle it, aiming to set the stage for an eventual human landing for the first time since the 1960s and 70s.
Adam is joined by space scientist, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock and astronaut Tim Peake – who together host the podcast 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II.
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You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd
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Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Shiler Mahmoudi . The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Chelsea take on Port Vale this evening with a place in the FA Cup semi-finals up for grabs.
Liam Rosenior’s men have had a bruising last few weeks, crashing out of the Champions League and faltering in the race to finish in the Premier League top five.
The Blues were beaten heavily by Paris Saint-Germain on the continent, losing 8-2 on aggregate in the last 16. In the league, they stumbled to defeats by Newcastle United and Everton as they lost ground on Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool in their bid to secure a top-five place.
This Easter fixture against League One’s basement boys Port Vale gives Chelsea a huge opportunity to stop the rot and return to winning ways, with the added bonus of reaching a major semi-final.
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Vale themselves are practically down already from the third tier, 14 points adrift of safety with eight games left to play.
The Valiants are currently led by experienced head Jon Brady, but don’t come into this clash with any kind of consistent form. A 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in late March was a pleasant surprise, but they were brought crashing down to earth with 1-0 and 4-0 defeats by Doncaster Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers respectively.
In the FA Cup, however, they have been a completely different prospect.
They stunned Sunderland in the fifth round to earn their place in the hat for the last eight, with Ben Waine’s first-half strike enough to send them through at Vale Park. That followed another upset in the fourth round, as they beat Bristol City by the same scoreline at home, with Waine notching in extra time.
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Date, kick-off time and venue
Chelsea vs Port Vale is scheduled for a 5.15pm BST kick-off tonight, Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The match will take place at Stamford Bridge.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Port Vale
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TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One as well as TNT Sports 1. Coverage on the BBC starts at 5pm BST, while the TNT coverage begins at 4.30pm.
Live stream: You can stream the game live and for free on BBC iPlayer with a TV licence. TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Chelsea vs Port Vale team news
After a season of what feels like continued injury crisis, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for Rosenior.
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Yes, there are still absentees, but nowhere near as many as Chelsea have had to deal with this term.
Benoit Badiashile was struck down with a virus ahead of the international break and could be in line for a return here, while Filip Jorgensen underwent a “small operation” on a groin problem.
Jamie Gittens was seen back in team training, but was held back from the 3-0 defeat at Everton after suffering a slight setback in his hamstring rehabilitation.
As for Vale, they have a few former Premier League stars in their ranks.
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They include ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos, former Burnley and Watford striker Andre Gray, and the old Norwich winger Onel Hernandez.
On the treatment table, however, are two of their star players.
Midfield orchestrator George Byers, formerly of Sheffield Wednesday, is out, and so is target man Jayden Stockley.
Ex-AFC Wimbledon defender Ben Heneghan and Ryan Croasdale are also sidelined.
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Chelsea vs Port Vale prediction
This should – in theory – be a relatively straightforward game for the hosts.
But questions are still likely to be asked of the fringe players, and of Rosenior, depending on how much he rotates here.
With the FA Cup now the Blues’ only remaining hope of silverware this term, surely he goes strong?
A “masculinity crisis” is building in schools across the UK, a teaching union has warned, after almost a quarter of female teachers it surveyed said they have been subject to misogynistic abuse from a pupil in the last year.
For the fourth year in a row NASUWT teachers’ union has surveyed a rise in teachers reporting misogyny from pupils – up to 23.4 per cent from 17.4 per cent in 2023.
One teacher said she was called a “f****** slag” by a pupil, while others said sexual noises and gestures were made at them, they were called misogynistic names and said they were meowed at by male students.
Another teacher responding to the survey said a student had made naked images using artificial intelligence (AI) of her and others.
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For the fourth year in a row NASUWT teachers’ union has surveyed a rise in teachers reporting misogyny from pupils (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Wire)
“We have a masculinity crisis brewing in our schools,” NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack said.
“Teachers desperately need increased support to deal with this new frontier of behaviour management – it affects the wellbeing of everyone in the classroom.
“This generation of teachers faces an unprecedented task that requires urgent action from policymakers.”
The latest poll of more than 5,000 teachers focuses on female staff rather than students. It found more than one in five teachers said they have been subject to sexist, racist or homophobic language from a pupil in the past year.
Female teachers described being ignored and mocked by their pupils, including being referred to as “love”, told to “calm down”.
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Many female teachers reported that pupils say misogynistic things to them after they attempt to address concerns about their behaviour, the NASUWT said, and some say male pupils do not listen to them because they are female.
One teacher said she faced misogyny on a daily basis, including abusive language.
“Have had boys joke about raping girls in front of me and laughed about it when challenged,” the teacher said.
“Parents have told me if I can’t handle teenage boys then I need to ‘work in a f****** nursery’.”
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The latest poll of more than 5,000 teachers focuses on female staff rather than students (David Jones/PA Wire)
Mr Wrack said: “If female teachers are reporting that they cannot contain gender-based aggression in their classrooms – and that is exactly what they are telling NASUWT – then we have a ticking time bomb on our hands.
“These pupils are the same boys and young men who will go on to be husbands, fathers, and colleagues in the workplace.
“They may eventually develop influence in the public sphere.
“We must help them and their victims – including teachers – before it is too late.”
He said social media and artificial intelligence companies must be held responsible for misinformation spreading on their platforms, and face sanctions if they do not.
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Mr Wrack added: “Our young people are being exploited to feed tech billionaires’ endless appetites for profit and power, and our education system is under attack as a result.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Misogynistic views are not innate, they are learned, and we are committed to using every possible tool to achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls.
“Our updated RSHE guidance is designed to make sure all young people can identify positive role models, and we are providing resources to support teachers to recognise the signs of incel ideologies so we can intervene effectively, including through the Educate Against Hate programme.
“We are strengthening our mobile phones in schools guidance to make it even clearer that schools need to be mobile phone-free environments and launching a consultation to seek views from experts, parents and young people to make sure children have a healthy relationship with phones and social media.”
A dad-of-three said he was asleep with his three children when two men began prowling outside their home on Friday, April 3.
A family have been left shaken after two men were caught on camera prowling outside their home in North Berwick.
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The frightening incident unfolded outside the property on Dall Hollow at around 2.30am on Friday, April 3.
Video footage, seen by Edinburgh Live, appeared to show two figures approaching the home, with one trying to gain access to the house.
A dad-of-three, who spoke anonymously, said his three young children were asleep inside the property when it was targeted.
He has been left fearing what might have happened if the crooks had entered his home.
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He told our sister title: “It makes me sick to think if my front door had been open that they’d be in my house whilst me and my kids are asleep.
“I checked my camera not expecting to see anything. I was gobsmacked to see in that first video they tried my car door, house door and if you watch to the end you can see they got into my neighbours car when the tail lights go on.”
In the footage, one suspect can be seen unsuccessfully trying to gain access to the family’s car. He then tries to open the front door of the house before walking out of the camera’s frame.
Another individual is seen approaching a neighbour’s vehicle in the street. He gains access and the motor’s taillights illuminate red.
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A second video shows the two dark figures returning about 30 minutes later, and attempt to break into the vehicle again before leaving.
Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Arsenal’s upcoming FA Cup quarter-final with Southampton
The quadruple may have gone, but there are still three trophies up for grabs for Arsenal.
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The Gunners haven’t won the FA Cup for six seasons, having claimed the trophy in the only final to be held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They will be confident of reaching the final four this time around, with Championship side Southampton standing in their way.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What time is Southampton v Arsenal kick off?
Southampton v Arsenal kicks off at St Mary’s, Southampton, on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
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Kick-off is at 8pm.
Watch the FA Cup on TNT Sports
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TNT Sports broadcasts select FA Cup fixtures and fans can tune in on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel. A monthly subscription also includes select Champions League, Europa League and Premier League games.
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What TV channel is Southampton v Arsenal on?
The game will be televised live on BBC One as well as TNT Sports 1.
Coverage on the BBC starts at 7.30pm, while the TNT coverage begins at the same time.
What about live streaming?
The game will be streamed live and for free on BBC iPlayer.
TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
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Southampton v Arsenal team news
The hosts will be without Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki due to suspension, while captain Jack Stephens is a doubt after suffering a training ground injury earlier in the week.
Leo Scienza is similarly expected to miss out as he recovers from a groin problem.
For Arsenal, Martin Zubimendi, Piero Hincapie and Noni Madueke are major doubts.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice could be rested after returning early from England duty.
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Eberechi Eze is set to miss out with a calf injury and Mikel Merino is also ruled out.
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