Arsenal Overcome Injury-Hit Portsmouth to March into FA Cup Fourth Round
Portsmouth, England | January 11, 2026 — Arsenal booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a composed and professional victory over an injury-ravaged Portsmouth at a packed Fratton Park, safely navigating one of the competition’s most unpredictable stages.
Fielding a heavily rotated side, the Premier League leaders avoided any hint of a “cup upset” narrative and extended a remarkable statistic in the process — Arsenal are now unbeaten against Portsmouth for 68 years in all competitions, underlining their historical dominance over Pompey.
For Arsenal, the result was about far more than progression. It was a statement of squad depth, tactical clarity, and mental resilience in a tournament that has troubled them in recent seasons.
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Context: FA Cup Pressure and Recent History
As the reigning FA Cup holders, Arsenal entered the third-round tie under significant scrutiny. Despite their domestic league dominance, the Gunners had suffered early exits in the competition in five consecutive seasons prior to last year’s triumph, often falling victim to lower-league opposition or untimely lapses in concentration.
Against a Portsmouth side struggling in the Championship and hit hard by injuries, Arsenal were clear favourites. However, FA Cup history has long shown that form and league status can quickly become irrelevant on cold January afternoons at traditional English grounds like Fratton Park.
Manager Mikel Arteta was keenly aware of the risk — and responded decisively.
Arteta’s Rotation Gamble Pays Off
Arteta made ten changes from the side that had drawn 0–0 with Liverpool in midweek, signalling complete trust in his squad’s depth. Only one player retained his place, as Arsenal’s manager rotated heavily to manage workloads across multiple competitions.
Gabriel Jesus led the line, flanked by Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke, while teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly were handed valuable starts in midfield.
Notably, Kai Havertz, returning from a knee injury, was named on the bench — a sign that Arteta is carefully managing his resources during a demanding stretch of the season.
Despite the wholesale changes, Arsenal looked cohesive from the opening minutes, dominating possession and dictating tempo with calm authority.
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Portsmouth’s Injury Crisis Tells
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho faced a daunting task even before kickoff. Pompey were missing several key players, including influential forwards Colby Bishop and Callum Lang, significantly blunting their attacking threat.
Mousinho experimented with a back-five system, hoping defensive solidity might frustrate Arsenal and keep the contest alive. However, the hosts’ recent defensive fragility — exposed in a 5–0 league defeat to Bristol City — resurfaced under sustained pressure.
Arsenal repeatedly found joy down the flanks, delivering dangerous crosses and forcing Portsmouth into hurried clearances and misplaced passes.
Match Flow and Key Moments
The breakthrough arrived just before halftime, following a slick Arsenal passing move that finally breached Portsmouth’s resistance. The goal settled nerves and ensured the visitors went into the interval firmly in control.
Five minutes after the restart, Arsenal struck again, capitalising on Portsmouth’s struggles to track runners and defend aerial deliveries. At that point, the tie was effectively decided.
To their credit, Portsmouth showed brief signs of life around the 74th minute, pressing higher and attempting to force mistakes. Fratton Park responded with its trademark noise, but Arsenal’s composure never wavered. A late goal sealed a comfortable victory, ensuring there would be no dramatic finale.
(Full goal details and final score were still being confirmed at the time of reporting, with live coverage provided by TNT Sports and discovery+.)
Tactical Discipline and Squad Depth on Display
What stood out most was Arsenal’s control. Even with a rotated side, their pressing structure, positional discipline, and decision-making remained intact. Young players blended seamlessly with experienced heads, highlighting the long-term planning behind Arteta’s squad-building approach.
For Arteta, the night reinforced the value of rotation — keeping senior players fresh while maintaining competitive standards across all fronts.
What Comes Next
Arsenal now await the FA Cup fourth-round draw, continuing their pursuit of what could become a historic quadruple-winning season if they remain competitive across league, domestic cups, and Europe.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, must quickly shift focus back to the Championship. While the defeat was expected given the circumstances, Mousinho will hope the experience sharpens his squad’s resolve as they fight to pull clear of relegation danger.
This was not a glamorous FA Cup classic, but it was a mature, efficient Arsenal performance — the kind that champions deliver when the spotlight is on potential banana skins. With momentum intact and squad confidence growing, Arsenal’s cup defence remains firmly on track.
For Portsmouth, pride remained despite defeat — but the gulf in depth and quality was ultimately decisive.
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