Premier League leaders Arsenal begin their FA Cup journey on Sunday afternoon with a challenging trip to Fratton Park, where Championship strugglers Portsmouth await in the third round.
Arsenal are the most decorated club in FA Cup history, having lifted the trophy a record 14 times, while Portsmouth have their own proud memories of the competition, famously winning it twice, most recently in 2008. Despite that pedigree, the gulf in quality between the two sides makes this a daunting assignment for the hosts.
Portsmouth enter the contest focused primarily on survival rather than silverware. John Mousinho’s side sit just one point above the Championship relegation zone after 24 matches, having recorded six wins, seven draws and 11 defeats so far this season.
There were encouraging signs towards the end of 2025 when Pompey put together a four-match unbeaten run, but that momentum was abruptly halted by a damaging 5-0 defeat away to Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Their scheduled league fixture against Ipswich Town last weekend was postponed due to a frozen pitch, allowing the injury-hit squad some extra recovery time ahead of this high-profile cup tie.
Home form offers Portsmouth a sliver of hope. They have lost only once in their last six matches at Fratton Park, collecting three wins and two draws during that spell. However, history is firmly against them. Portsmouth have lost each of their last five FA Cup matches against Premier League opposition and have not beaten Arsenal in any competition since March 1958.
Adding to Mousinho’s concerns is his side’s lack of firepower. Portsmouth are the Championship’s second-lowest scorers, a worrying statistic when facing an Arsenal team that boasts the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just 14 goals in 21 matches.
Arsenal arrive on the south coast in a commanding position domestically, sitting top of the Premier League after winning 15 of their 21 matches this season. Mikel Arteta’s side responded impressively to a December defeat against Aston Villa by winning five straight league games, before playing out a goalless draw with champions Liverpool in midweek.
Although that draw prevented Arsenal from extending their lead at the summit, they remain unbeaten at the Emirates this season and now turn their attention to a run of four consecutive away fixtures, starting with this FA Cup opener.
The Gunners are aiming to win the competition for the first time since 2020 and have fond memories of Fratton Park, having beaten Portsmouth 2-0 away in the fifth round during that successful campaign. Arsenal have won all four previous FA Cup meetings with Pompey and are unbeaten in their last five competitive encounters overall.
One slight concern is Arsenal’s recent third-round exits, having been eliminated at this stage in the past two seasons. Nevertheless, their squad depth should allow Arteta to rotate without significantly weakening the side.
Injuries & Suspensions
Portsmouth have been hit hard by injuries. Midfielder Mark Kosznovszky is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering ACL and MCL damage, while defender Hayden Matthews is expected to miss at least two months with an ankle injury. Key attackers Josh Murphy and Callum Lang are also unavailable, alongside Josh Knight, Connor Ogilvie, Thomas Waddingham and Florian Bianchini.There is some positive news, however, with captain Marlon Pack and leading striker Colby Bishop both pushing to be involved after injury setbacks.
Arsenal will travel without defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera, who are not yet ready to return. Max Dowman remains sidelined, while Piero Hincapie is a doubt after picking up a knock against Liverpool. Arteta is expected to rotate heavily, with several squad players likely to start. Kai Havertz could feature from the bench as he builds match fitness following a knee injury.
Possible Starting Lineups
Portsmouth:Schmid; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson; Dozzell, Pack; Segecic, Chaplin, Blair; Bishop
Arsenal:
Arrizabalaga; White, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Norgaard, Eze; Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus
Expert Prediction
Portsmouth 0-2 Arsenal
