The preview of FA Cup is one of the oldest and most exciting football tournaments in the world. It brings together teams from different levels of English football. This time, we have an interesting match of Portsmouth vs Arsenal in the third round.
Match Details
In this preview of FA cup Portsmouth play in the Championship, which is the second tier vs Arsenal who are at the top of the Premier League. This game could be a classic underdog story, where the smaller team tries to beat the giants. The match between Portsmouth vs Arsenal will take place on January 11, 2026, at Fratton Park, Portsmouth’s home ground. Fans are looking forward to it because Arsenal are strong favorites, but the FA Cup is full of surprises. The game kicks off at around 3:00 PM GMT, and it will be shown on TV for many viewers.
The venue is Fratton Park which is a historic stadium in Portsmouth that holds about 20,000 fans. It’s known for its loud and passionate supporters, which could give the home team a boost. The weather on match day is expected to be cool, around 48°F, which is typical for January in England. This could make the pitch a bit slippery, but both teams are used to it.
This preview presents the FA Cup third-round tie Portsmouth vs Arsenal, where Premier League teams enter the competition. Portsmouth got here by winning their earlier rounds against lower-league sides. Arsenal start fresh at this stage. The winner moves to the fourth round, and there’s always the dream of going all the way to Wembley for the final.
🚨BREAKING: Arsenal will play Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the FA Cup third round.
The last time the Gunners played Portsmouth, they went on to win the competition. pic.twitter.com/lWhIf5nPCJ
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) December 8, 2025
Team Form and Recent Performances
Portsmouth have been up and down this season. They sit 21st in the Championship after 25 games, with just 22 goals scored and 37 let in. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws, and two losses in the last six matches. They started the festive period well but ended with a big 0-5 loss to Bristol City on January 1, 2026. Before that, they beat Charlton 2-1 and drew with QPR and Derby. At home, they have three wins in their last six games, which is decent. But their defense has been weak, conceding goals often.
Arsenal are flying high. They top the Premier League with 14 wins, three draws, and two losses from 19 games. In their last six matches, they have five wins and one draw. They beat Bournemouth 3-2 away, thrashed Aston Villa 4-1 at home, and won against Brighton, Everton, and Wolves. The draw was 1-1 against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. Away from home, Arsenal have won 10 of their last 14 games. They score a lot, with 62 goals in 29 games across all competitions, and their defense is solid, conceding only 16.
Arsenal’s attack is sharp, and they control games with high possession, around 58% on average. Portsmouth struggle with possession at 50% and have fewer shots per game.
Key Players to Watch
For Portsmouth, Adrian Segecic is their top scorer with strong hold-up play and a powerful shot. Terry Devlin brings energy with his runs and passes, and he can score from set pieces. Young winger Min-Hyeok Yang adds speed and creativity on the flanks.
Arsenal have stars like Noni Madueke, who is fast and skilled in beating defenders. Viktor Gyokeres is a goal machine with strength and finishing. Eberechi Eze provides creativity with his quick feet and vision, perfect for breaking down defenses. These players could make the difference in a cup game.
Injury Updates
Portsmouth will miss Mark Kosznovszky and Connor Ogilvie, both with knee injuries. They are expected back next month. There might be other minor issues, but the squad is mostly fit.
Arsenal have a few problems. Max Dowman has an ankle ligament injury and aims to return in February. Cristhian Mosquera is out with an ankle injury for about three weeks. Riccardo Calafiori has a muscle injury until January 12, and Myles Lewis-Skelly has a knee issue. Despite this, Arsenal have depth to cover.
Head-to-Head Record
Arsenal have dominated past meetings. In the last six games, Portsmouth have zero wins, one draw, and five losses. The most recent was in the FA Cup in 2020, where Arsenal won 2-0 at Fratton Park. Before that, in 2009, Arsenal won 4-1 and 3-0. The draw was 0-0 in 2007. Portsmouth haven’t beaten Arsenal since 2008 in the league, but cup games can be different.
Predicted Lineups
In this preview, Portsmouth’s might line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation to defend solidly and counter-attack. The predicted line up: Schmid in the goal; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson in the defense; Segecic and Pack in the midfield; Dozzell, Yang, Chaplin behind the striker Kirk.
In this preview, Arsenal could go with 4-3-3 for their attacking style. Predicted: Kepa in the goal; White, Timber, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly at the back; Norgaard, Merino, Eze in the midfield; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres up in the front. The manager, Mikel Arteta, might rotate some players to rest stars, but he’ll still field a strong side.
The Atmosphere Ahead
This FA Cup match promises between Portsmouth vs Arsenal excitement. Portsmouth hope for a giant-killing, backed by their fans. Arsenal aim to keep their winning run and progress in the FA cup. While the upsets keep happening, Arsenal’s strength should see them through. The fans should watch for magical moments in this classic cup tie. So, whatever happens, it is what makes the FA Cup special.