Arsenal begin their FA Cup campaign with a trip to Fratton Park on Sunday, where they face Championship strugglers Portsmouth in the third round. With the Gunners currently leading the Premier League, the tie appears heavily weighted in favor of Mikel Arteta’s side, though the magic of the FA Cup offers Portsmouth hope of a famous upset on home soil.
Match Context
This fixture brings together two clubs with rich FA Cup history but vastly different current fortunes. Arsenal arrive in confident form and are expected to rotate their squad while still fielding a side packed with international quality. Portsmouth, meanwhile, are battling near the Championship relegation zone and will see this match as both a welcome distraction and a rare chance to test themselves against elite opposition.
The match will be refereed by Tony Harrington, with no VAR in operation. In the United States, the game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and streamed via ESPN+ and Fubo, while UK viewers can check BBC coverage.
Team News
Portsmouth
John Mousinho’s side are hampered by several injuries. Josh Murphy and Callum Lang are sidelined with hamstring issues, while Connor Ogilvie remains out with a knee problem. These absences limit Portsmouth’s attacking options against top-level opposition.
Predicted Portsmouth XI (4-2-3-1):
Schmid; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson; Dozzell, Pack; Segecic, Chaplin, Blair; Bishop.
Arsenal
Arsenal will be without Riccardo Calafiori (muscle) and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle). Kai Havertz is doubtful but could return, depending on late fitness checks. Despite expected rotation, Arteta can still call on significant depth across the pitch.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1):
Kepa; White, Saliba, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard, Merino; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Jesus.
Head-to-Head
History strongly favors Arsenal. The Gunners have won all of the last five meetings between the sides, including a 2–0 FA Cup victory in 2020. Across 15 total encounters, Arsenal boast nine wins, with Portsmouth yet to record a victory and six matches ending in draws.
What to Expect
Portsmouth are likely to adopt a compact, disciplined approach, aiming to frustrate Arsenal and capitalize on set pieces or counterattacks. However, their recent struggles — including a heavy 5–0 defeat in league action — underline the scale of the challenge they face.
Arsenal’s technical quality, pace in wide areas, and depth across the squad should eventually tell, even if the hosts manage to keep the contest competitive early on.
Prediction
Most observers expect a comfortable Arsenal win, with scorelines such as 3–0 or 0–3 widely predicted. For Portsmouth, keeping the scoreline respectable and delivering a spirited performance may be the primary objective, while Arsenal will be focused on a professional display and safe passage into the fourth round.
As always, the FA Cup thrives on surprises, but on paper, Arsenal look well placed to avoid one at Fratton Park.
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