When underdogs dream, giants must stay awake.
Portsmouth welcome Arsenal to Fratton Park today in the FA Cup third round, with kickoff set for 2:00 PM GMT (7:30 PM IST). While the FA Cup is famous for surprises, Arsenal arrive as clear favorites — even with heavy rotation expected from Mikel Arteta.
Match Preview
Arsenal come into this tie as Premier League leaders, unbeaten in their last eight matches and boasting seven wins in that run. Their most recent outing ended in a gritty 0-0 draw against Liverpool, underlining their defensive strength.
History also favors the Gunners. Arsenal have won their last five meetings with Portsmouth, including a 2-0 FA Cup victory in 2020. In contrast, Portsmouth are enduring a difficult Championship season, sitting just one point above the relegation zone. A heavy 5-0 defeat to Bristol City last time out has only added to their worries.
Team News
Portsmouth face major injury problems. Several key players will miss out, including Josh Murphy, Callum Lang, Connor Ogilvie, and Florian Bianchini. However, there is hope as captain Marlon Pack and striker Colby Bishop could return to boost morale.
Predicted Portsmouth XI:
Schmid; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson; Dozzell, Pack; Segecic, Chaplin, Blair; Bishop.
Arsenal are expected to rotate heavily, with nine changes likely from the Liverpool match. Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, and Eberechi Eze are set to start, while Kai Havertz adds experience. Defender Piero Hincapie remains a late injury doubt.
Prediction & Odds
Most experts predict a comfortable Arsenal win, with scorelines like 0-4 widely suggested. Portsmouth have conceded 35 goals in 24 Championship games, while Arsenal own the best defense in the Premier League, allowing just 14 goals in 20 matches.
While the FA Cup has delivered famous upsets before, form and quality strongly point toward an Arsenal victory.
Where to Watch
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UK: TNT Sports 1 (from 1:30 PM GMT)
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Streaming: discovery+
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Live Updates: BBC Sport, FotMob
Arsenal will be determined to avoid another early FA Cup exit after last season’s dramatic third-round loss on penalties.