The 14-time winners Arsenal kick off their quest for a 15th FA Cup title tonight, Sunday, January 11, 2026, with a trip to the south coast to face Championship side Portsmouth. Kick-off at a sold-out Fratton Park is scheduled for 14:00 GMT.
Arsenal arrives at the peak of their powers, currently sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League. For John Mousinho’s Portsmouth, who are currently embroiled in a relegation battle in the second tier, the fixture represents a "free hit" against one of the best teams in the world.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT / 09:00 ET
Venue: Fratton Park, Portsmouth
Referee: Tony Harrington
Broadcast: TNT Sports 1 / discovery+ (UK), ESPN+ (US
The Storyline: History vs. Modern Might
Arsenal: A Proud Record to Defend
Mikel Arteta’s side is in scintillating form, leading both the Premier League and the 36-team Champions League table. However, the FA Cup remains a major priority for a club that hasn't lifted the trophy since 2020—a victory that incidentally began with a win at Fratton Park in the fifth round.
Despite a grueling 0–0 draw with Liverpool on Thursday, Arteta is expected to name a strong side, though some rotation is likely. "We are chasing trophies; that is the purpose of this team," Arteta noted ahead of the match. The Gunners have an incredible record against Pompey, remaining unbeaten in their last 22 meetings—a run dating back to 1958.
Portsmouth: The Ultimate Underdog
Sitting 21st in the Championship, Portsmouth has endured a difficult 2026 so far, including a 5–0 loss to Bristol City. However, John Mousinho has turned Fratton Park into a difficult ground for visitors, having beaten three of the Championship's top five at home this season. With an 11-day rest following a postponed fixture last weekend, Pompey is physically prepared for the challenge, even if they are missing several key players to a "packed treatment room."
Team News & Probable Lineups
Arsenal Team News
Injury Doubts: Piero Hincapie is a doubt following a knock against Liverpool. Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera are still sidelined.
Returns: Kai Havertz could feature as he nears a full return from a knee injury.
Rotation: Summer signings Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke are expected to start as Arteta manages minutes ahead of a Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Wednesday.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli.
Portsmouth Team News
Injury Crisis: Pompey are without Márk Kosznovszky (ACL), Callum Lang, and Josh Murphy (both hamstring).
Key Returns: Captain Marlon Pack and striker Colby Bishop are hoping to be fit enough to lead the line.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Whitworth; Devlin, Poole, Towler, Ogilvie; Pack, Dozzell; Silvera, Segecic, Ritchie; Bishop.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Unbeaten Streak: Arsenal has not lost to Portsmouth in 67 years (since a 5–4 defeat in March 1958).
Recent Meeting: The last clash was in the 2019/20 FA Cup Fifth Round, where Arsenal won 2–0 with goals from Sokratis and Eddie Nketiah.
Third Round Blues: Arsenal has been eliminated in the Third Round in each of the last two seasons (against Liverpool and Man Utd).
Pompey's Cup Woes: Portsmouth has lost their last three FA Cup third-round ties and their last five against Premier League opposition.
Tactical Analysis: Strength in Depth
Arsenal will likely look to control the tempo through Martin Zubimendi and exploit the half-spaces with Eberechi Eze. Portsmouth's best chance lies in their directness; they average more long passes (69 per 90) than any other Championship side and will look to use the physicality of Colby Bishop to unsettle Arsenal's high line.
However, Pompey has struggled specifically against set-pieces this season (conceding 14), an area where Arsenal’s "dead-ball specialists" under Nicolas Jover will look to thrive.
Match Prediction
While the Fratton Park crowd will be vociferous, the gulf in quality and the tactical discipline of Arteta’s league-leaders should be too much for an injury-hit Portsmouth side.
Final Score Prediction: Portsmouth 0–3 Arsenal
