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Underdogs Portsmouth host 13 time winners Arsenal at Fratton Park in the fifth round of the FA Cup

Credit: Portsmouth FC

League One side Portsmouth host Premier League Arsenal with Pompey being the lowest ranked team left in the competition after they were able to beat Barnsley in the fourth round of the cup.

Pompey are high-flying in League One emerging 3-0 victors against Rochdale on Friday. Goals from Ryan Williams, Steve Seddon and Christian Burgess saw Pompey solidify their place in the top three in League One.

In the fourth round of the FA Cup, Portsmouth breezed past Barnsley as they won 4-2. Ben Close and John Marquis put Portsmouth into a 2-0 lead. Cauley Woodrow pulled a goal back for Barnsley but, Ronan Curtis and Christian Burgess scored to make it 4-1. Conor Chaplin’s goal in the 91st minute was only a consellation goal for Barnsley as they crashed out of the FA Cup.

Arsenal did not play in the league this weekend with their game against Manchester City postponed due to the Citizens playing in the Carabao Cup final which they won 2-1 against Aston Villa

Arsenal were beat by Olympiacos in the Europa League on goal difference in mid-week.

In the fourth round of the FA Cup, they were able to dispatch AFC Bournemouth. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah saw the Gunners go through even though Sam Surridge provided a late scare for Arsenal

Team news

Portsmouth have a full strength squad to pick from for this fixture.

Arsenal will be without: Skhodran Mustafi, Cedric, Calum Chambers, Kieran Tierney and Pablo Mari who are all out with injuries.

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett is excited by the challenge of facing a side who have lifted the famous old trophy on a record 13 occasions.

“We’re playing against one of the genuinely big clubs in this country – one with a lot of history and tradition.

“It’s a great game for us and we’re all looking forward to it because they don’t come around too often.

“So of course you have to be enthusiastic and I certainly am, while I know the supporters will feel exactly the same.

“It’s going to be a different type of test for us and we have to address it as such with the way we approach the tie.

“The players are no different to me and their biggest aim will be to get into the Championship. That’s our focus.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that his players are still feeling “very down” two days after being knocked out of the Europa League.

“We trained today, we were all very down, frustrated and disappointed,” he said.

“The first message to them was that I am right behind them, I said ‘thank you for the attitude’ – they tried, tried and tried again and deserved to win.

“We can fall and we can have disappointments but it is how we react individually and collectively.”