Pompey boss John Mousinho's Blackburn Rovers press conference
Pompey will play host to Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup next month
Pompey fans have learned the date of the Blues’ FA Cup third-round tie against Arsenal.
That fixture was also in the FA Cup (fifth round), with Mikel Arteta’s side going on to lift the trophy in his first season in charge following a 2-0 victory at PO4.
Fast forward nearly five years and both teams will do battle again on the south coast, with Sunday, January 11, at 2pm, pencilled for much-anticipated head-to-head.
The game is expected to be a sell-out - especially as PO4 hasn’t played host to a Premier League side in any cup competition since that loss to the Gunners.
But for those who find themselves unfortunate not to get a ticket, help is at hand. The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, which gurantees to bring an extra £80,000 into the club’s coffers.
Pompey are yet to annouce ticket details for the game. But with visiting teams allocated up to 15% of a host ground’s capacity up to 9,000, demand will outstrip supply. Meanwhile, season-ticket holders who normally sit in the Milton End will need to be allocated a seat somewhere else in the ground - as per next month’s home game against Southampton, which is now a sell-out for home supporters.
Before Arsenal visIt Fratton Park, the Blues have Championship games against Blackburn (H), Derby (A), Charlton (H), Bristol City (A) and Ipswich (H) to navigate.
The matches against QPR (Boxing Day) and Bristol City (New Year’s Day) will be available to watch on Sky Sports+.
Pompey are currently 22nd in the Championship table - 41 places below Premier League leaders Arsenal, who hold a two-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City at the top of the table.
All FA Cup third-round fixtures to be broadcast live on TV
Friday, January 9
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest (7.30pm) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Saturday, January 10
Macclesfield v Crystal Palace (12.15pm) - BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
Tottenham v Aston Villa (5.45pm) - BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 2, 1 and discovery+
Charlton Athletic v Chelsea (8pm) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Sunday, January 11
Derby County v Leeds United (12pm) - TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
Pompey v Arsenal (2pm) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Manchester United v Brighton (4.30pm) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Monday, 12 January
Liverpool v Barnsley (7.45pm) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
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