Pompey Talk: January transfer window update
Pompey welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup this afternoon.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed defender Riccardo Calafiori will miss this afternoon’s trip to Pompey due to injury.
But the Arsenal boss has revealed Kai Havertz will be in the fold for the third-round tie at Fratton Park has he bids to make a long-awaited return from the sidelines.
The Blues, of course, go into today’s cup clash hovering above the second-tier relegation zone, while the Gunners are sitting pretty at the summit of the top flight.
It represents a first trip to the south coast in almost six years for Arteta’s men, who last visited Pompey in March 2020 with Kenny Jackett at the helm in League One.
Arsenal to be without £42m at Pompey
Calafiori, who arrived from Bologna for a fee rising to £42m in August 2024, has been sidelined for Arsenal’s previous four matches due to a muscle injury.
He said: ‘I don’t think so. I think that game is going to be too early for him.’
Meanwhile, there could be a welcome return to the picture for long-term absentee Havertz, who has been out for more than four months with a knee problem.
The ex-Chelsea man sustained the issue in Arsenal’s opening day draw with Manchester United in August, but did return to the 20-man squad to face Aston Villa in December.
Having been left out of the picture for the Gunners’ previous two matches to build-up match fitness, Arteta believes the visit to Fratton Park in third round of the FA Cup could serve beneficial for the 26-year-old.
Kai Havertz set for long-awaited Arsenal return
Kai Havertzplaceholder image
Kai Havertz | Getty Images
‘If everything goes well, I think so,’ the head coach added.
‘I think he’s going to be in the squad again in the next few days. He trains well, he’s increased his load, he’s coping with that really well. And it will be great if we can have him.’
Arsenal are expected to make significant changes at PO4 following their goalless draw against Liverpool on Thursday evening.
A Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie with Chelsea awaits on Wednesday, with their contest against John Mousinho’s men sandwiched in between.
And asked whether he will need to heavily rotate his squad this afternoon, Areta replied: ‘Well, let’s see who is available and if some players can be back for that game.
‘But we have to manage [it], obviously, because what is coming again in the next few weeks.
‘I think we have four away games in different competitions, and we have to make sure that everybody is participating, we continue to perform and win games. And we’re going to have to manage that one.’
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