Portsmouth vs Arsenal FA Cup Prediction: Expect a surprise at Fratton Park

The upcoming FA Cup match between Portsmouth and Arsenal is attracting considerable attention from football fans. This clash will take place at 9:00 PM on January 11, 2026, at Fratton Park, a stadium renowned for its passionate atmosphere that can put pressure on any visiting team.

Match context and current form

Entering this match, both Portsmouth and Arsenal face their own opportunities and challenges. For Portsmouth, playing at home is a huge morale boost. Although statistics from the start of the season show that the teams haven't had many official matches to assess their form, the knockout nature of the FA Cup always provides fertile ground for surprises.

Statistics for the home team, Portsmouth

The home team entered the match with a clean record from the start of the season, having scored yet but also not conceded any goals. This shows thorough psychological preparation before welcoming a top-tier opponent from the Premier League.

The position of Arsenal

As for Arsenal, they have always been considered one of the top contenders in the FA Cup thanks to their rich history in the competition. With a quality squad and a clearly defined playing style, the Gunners will undoubtedly take the initiative and impose their game right from the opening whistle.

Head-to-head history: Arsenal holds the advantage.

Looking back at history, in their most recent encounter on March 3, 2020, Arsenal secured a convincing 2-0 victory at Fratton Park. This result reflects the significant difference in quality between the two teams. Portsmouth failed to find the net in that match, a lesson they will surely want to learn from in this rematch.

Expected troop strength and tactical situation

Notably, neither team currently has any information regarding serious injuries. This allows both Portsmouth and Arsenal to field their best players.

• Portsmouth:They are expected to play with a low defensive line, focusing on tight defense and waiting for counter-attacking opportunities from set pieces.
• Arsenal:They are likely to dominate possession, utilizing the versatility of their wingers to stretch the opponent's defense.

Predict the result

Based on in-depth analysis, Arsenal has a higher probability of winning. However, experts also predict a draw with a 50% probability, suggesting that Portsmouth could hold their opponent to a draw in regular time.

Experts advise that a double chance (draw or Arsenal) is the safest option for this match. It's expected that Arsenal will dominate, but Portsmouth will fight hard to defend their goal.

Team lineup updated at 20:23 on 11/01/2026

Official lineup

Portsmouth

Diagram: 4-2-3-1

CoachJohn Mousinho

Starting lineup:

• 26. Josef Bursik (G)
• 24. Terry Devlin (D)
• 5. Regan Poole (D)
• 6. Conor Shaughnessy (D)
• 22. Zak Swanson (D)
• 21. Andre Dozzell (M)
• 16. Luke Le Roux (M)
• 10. Adrian Segecic (M)
• 36. Conor Chaplin (M)
• 29. Harvey Blair (M)
• 9. Colby Bishop (F)

Substitutes:

• 30. Ben Killip
• 7. Marlon Pack
• 3. Connor Ogilvie
• 2. Jordan Williams
• 17. Ibane Bowat
• 19. Jacob Farrell
• 8. John Swift
• 15. Franco Umeh
• 25. Makenzie Kirk

Arsenal

Diagram: 4-3-3

CoachMikel Arteta

Starting lineup:

• 13. Kepa Arrizabalaga (G)
• 4. Ben White (D)
• 16. Christian Nørgaard (D)
• 6. Gabriel Magalhães (D)
• 49. Myles Lewis-Skelly (D)
• 10. Eberechi Eze (M)
• 23. Mikel Merino (M)
• 22. Ethan Nwaneri (M)
• 20. Noni Madueke (F)
• 9. Gabriel Jesus (F)
• 11. Gabriel Martinelli (F)

Substitutes:

• 1. David Raya
• 89. Marli Salmon
• 12. Jurriën Timber
• 8. Martin Ødegaard
• 36. Martín Zubimendi
• 41. Declan Rice
• 29. Kai Havertz
• 7. Bukayo Saka
• 14. Viktor Gyökeres