2025-26 FA Cup: Third Round – Portsmouth vs Arsenal

Portsmouth look to cause a cupset as they host Premier League leaders, Arsenal in the Third Round of 2025-26 FA Cup.

Victory would see Portsmouth progress past this stage for the first time since 2019-20 season, whilst Arsenal are looking to avoid suffering a third consecutive exit at this stage for the first time since 1945-48 seasons.

 

Team News

Portsmouth will be without Mark Kosznovszky after the midfielder suffered torn ACL and MCL.

Thomas Waddingham (quad), Connor Ogilvie (knee), Hayden Matthews (ankle), Josh Knight (back), Callum Lang (hamstring) and Josh Murphy (unspecified) are ruled out.

Arsenal will again be without Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera as they near returns from respective muscle and ankle injuries.

Max Dowman remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Portsmouth host Arsenal at Fratton Park on Sunday 11 January at 2pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Portsmouth are winless in five previous FA Cup meetings against Arsenal across four individual ties (D1, L4), with their second such tie having been lost 3-2 in an away replay after a 1-1 draw at home in fourth round of 1970-71 edition.
• Arsenal are yet to lose a FA Cup tie away to Portsmouth (W3, D1).
• Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are the only two players still at Arsenal since their last FA Cup tie against Portsmouth in March 2020, which they won 2-0 on that occasion.
• Since relegation from Premier League in 2010, Portsmouth have lost all four FA Cup meetings against top-flight opposition (L4).
• Arsenal have won their last four FA Cup ties against lower-league opposition (W4, L2), of which both defeats came against Nottingham Forest at this stage in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

 

Prediction

With the battle for Championship survival certainly their most immediate priority amidst an injury crisis, Portsmouth will feel that this is a free hit as underdogs with nothing to lose here, but they will need to be absolutely clinical up front whilst resilient defensively if want to pull off a cupset.

Arsenal meanwhile have a tough Carabao Cup’s semi-final first-leg trip trip to Chelsea on Wednesday so I expect serious changes here after a sluggish display against Liverpool, but their fringe players are strong enough to really get a result here.

Mikel Arteta also will be pleased with Arsenal’s unbeaten FA Cup form against Portsmouth specifically, and I honestly don’t see them slipping up in what should be a routine result.

Prediction: Portsmouth 0-2 Arsenal

Result: Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal