We'll have a right good go - Poole on Pompey's Arsenal test
Friday, 9th Jan 2026 14:28 by Pompey-fans.com staff
No-one of a Pompey persuasion thinks the Blues are going to stroll through Sunday's FA Cup tie with Arsenal - however many of their first-team regulars the Gunners rest.
But Regan Poole says there is no reason Pompey can't put the Premier League visitors under some early pressure - and see what happens.
John Mousinho's side go into the tie with their squad ravaged by injury and off the back of a 5-0 thumping at Bristol City last time out.
But Poole says the team had a good festive period before that game, and have had some rest since, and are keen to get stuck into Sunday's task.
He told the club website: 'Everyone wants to play this one, although I have the mentality of wanting to appear in every game – no matter the opponents. I’ve missed enough games for this football club, so I don’t want to miss any more and this is sure to be a great occasion.
'Arsenal are the best team right now – top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League. They’re absolutely flying. We just need to make it as tough for them as possible. Not many teams like coming to Fratton Park and we’ve got to put them under pressure early on. We’ll have a right good go.
'It’s the kind of draw you wish for and we feel pretty lucky to get it, so we’re not just going to roll over and watch them play nice football. We have to get in their faces. I’ve been on the good side of results in this competition and also the bad side, but hopefully we can cause an upset this time.
'We had a pretty good period over Christmas, aside from New Year’s Day, and can feel fairly positive. But it was a tough, relentless run – even playing one game fewer than most others – and we had a couple of days off at the start of this week to recover.'
Photo: Action Images via Reuters
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