Arsenal look to extend their unbeaten run against Portsmouth in the FA Cup

Arsenal begins their FA Cup campaign with a third-round tie trip to Fratton Park to take on Championship side Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon.

John Mousinho’s side welcome the record holders off the back of a 5-0 defeat to Bristol City on New Year’s Day after their game against Ipswich Town last week was postponed.

Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by reigning Premier League champions Liverpool on Thursday and are six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa in second place and third place, respectively.

Match preview

Portsmouth are winless in their last 22 games against Arsenal in all competitions (D8 L14) since a 5-4 win in March 1958. Only against Chelsea (31 between 1962 and 2012) have they ever had a longer winless run.

Arsenal have progressed from all four of their FA Cup ties against Portsmouth, in 1931/32, 1970/71, 2003/04 and 2019/20. They’ve only faced Brighton and Leyton Orient in more ties with a 100% success rate (5/5).

Portsmouth have lost their last three FA Cup third-round ties and their last five FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition since beating Tottenham Hotspur in the 2009/10 semi-final.

Arsenal have been eliminated from the FA Cup third round in each of the last two seasons, albeit against Premier League opposition in Liverpool and Man Utd. They haven’t gone out at this stage in more consecutive campaigns since a run of four between 1938/39 and 1947/48.

Since winning the FA Cup in Mikel Arteta’s first season in charge in 2019/20, Arsenal have gone out of the competition in either the third round (3 times) or fourth round (twice) in the last five campaigns.

Team news

Portsmouth

Pompey will be without a host of players, including Mark Kosznovszky, Hayden Matthews, Josh Murphy, Callum Lang, Josh Knight, Connor Ogilvie, Thomas Waddingham and Florian Bianchini.

While captain Marlon Pack and first-choice striker Colby Bishop could be in contention for selection after their respective injuries.

Arsenal

Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Mx Dowman are sidelined with injuries.

Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie are a doubt for this fixture.

Predicted line-ups

Portsmouth: Schmid, Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson, Dozzell, Pack, Segecic, Chaplin, Blair, Bishop.

Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, White, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Norgaard, Eze, Madeuke, Martinelli, Jesus.