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Official Arsenal team to face Portsmouth – Pablo Mari get his debut

Mikel Arteta is desperate to win the FA Cup.

It was always expected that Mikel Arteta would put out a strong team against Portsmouth in the FA Cup fifth round and it is arguable if he has done that tonight.

Arsenal desperately need to bounce back from the loss to Olympiacos last Thursday night and the last thing they need right now is to be dumped out of the FA Cup by a League One side, that would have a devastating impact on the teamโ€™s morale going forward.

This is the team that Arteta is hoping will put Arsenal one step closer to FA Cup glory.

Is this team from Mikel Arteta the one to see Arsenal through to the next round of the FA Cup? Let us know in the comments below

Links to streams will be put in the comments where to watch the game live and free so keep checking in.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal match preview here

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75 Comments

  1. Most redundant game ever. But it’s the fa cup and we’re still in it.
    Win: “it’s Portsmouth”
    Lose: “ha ha pwned by Pompey lol jackasses”

  2. Pretty strong but i think we will be very direct today,lacks creativity.Anyway i think we will win comfortably tonight.

    Auba and xhaka deserves rest.
    Saka does too but we cant afford to…

    COYG

  5. Good test for the youngsters who have question mark hanging over them like Willock Nelson and nketiah … If they can’t shine tonight it’s time to ship them out

        1. I feel Arteta prefer Sokaritis as RB cause that way we won’t have our CB exposed cause the RB and LB are bombing forward.
          Saka will always play almost like a WB so Zhaka to cover that while Sokaritis maintains his position.

    2. Well……. unless, this means, Niles will he starting our EPL games henceforth…… give Bellerin some more time to get back into shape, or get used to the bench. I wonder how long is left before Cedric is fully fit

  7. is it just me, or the writer of this article unqualified.
    here is the team and you list just 3 players. i am still searching to see the rest. can someone kindly provide with the 11 man team.

  8. Sokratis at right back again. Wonder what AMN has done wrong. Good to see Mari at last though. COYR.

  10. Great to see Nelson and Martinelli back in the starting line-up

    That squad should be able to win the ball possession tonight, since the opposition come from a lower division

    We don’t need Xhaka tonight, because Mari could distribute the ball with his left foot as well. I just hope Arteta tries 4-3-3 formation tonight

  11. The absence of AMN from the starting eleven surprises me As you say GB , what has happened to make Arteta select Socratis at right back yet again? Could he be setting up with a back three?

  12. excuse me Adm Martin, where is Leo? is he still around or maybe he changed his name?

  13. If the definition of strength is what we saw vs Olympiacos, I would rather this
    …

  14. Leo used to comment here sometimes back, 2012, 2013 .., so I just wanted to know if he still around

  15. Willock in an important position? Really? Hope he proves me wrong as I think he’s useless.

  16. Pretty obvious what kind of game MA is expecting – leaving out two playmakers in Ozil and Cebs.

    This is going to be a real “battle” tonight and I agree with his team selection: bar his exclusion of AMN – let’s hope he is asked that question, as he always seems to be up front at press conferences and we find out what is going on.

  20. Nah, our players are just made of plastic. We need better training facilities, we seem to permacrock at least one of our players every season

    1. What on earth is that all about S?
      Was that tackle and the referee’s decision anything to do with football?

  21. Feel for Torreira, but let’s face it, he’s never been strong enough physically for the premier league and he probably never will be.

    1. Ok I hear you but can you honestly tell me our player wonโ€™t get a card for challenge on TL.

  22. If Saka gets an injury we know who to blame . I really don’t know why Luiz is playing and please can someone tell me willock’s position.

  23. Is this going to be one of those nights where everything that could go wrong, does go wrong??

    1. Yes, when even the BBC subliminally roots for Pompey despite having an ex gunner in their punditry panel y’know we have zero chance of winning

  24. If we are so negative and static against first div opposition then we should know how limited this squad is … willock Luiz Nelson Socrates all need to go in the summer just not up to the mark

    1. And be replaced with those that are equally as crap lol. All we’re doing is offering employment anyhow. And letting the employees dictate their terms (a la Ozil). We’re disjointed all around, any footballer with ambition won’t join us

    2. Two of the players you mentioned just got here and the other two are from academy. Are you saying what you are seeing so far is the fault of the named players . I have seen team with players that possess far less qualities play better football. Something fundamentally and culturally is wrong with arsenal as a football club. People blame Leno in our last match for conceded a corner that we conceded from but the truth is that ball should not have been passed to him because n the first place. That part of what caused Emery his job and now we are seeing it again that is not coincidence.

  26. Hope it’s just a knock poor torreira.hey is it me all Guendouse is doing is pass the ball back ward and sideways ๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

  27. Portsmouth are really targeting that sokratis position they have been the better team so far

  28. pls y is Socratis playing RB.i I dont get it.if you want to play 3 at d back pls arteta do d right tin.

    1. Just disappointed of Willock and Saka. But at least Willock doesn’t hesitate to fight in duels

      Guendouzi should cool his head off if he wants to improve

    2. Saks has 10 assists already in the league and hes barely 18, Eddie has scored 3 goals already since coming back from Leeds honestly some fans are so fickle is embarrassing smh.

      2. Absolutely and some canโ€™t even kick an orange ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

  32. Sokratis scored๐Ÿ˜Ž
    Luiz positioning still a major issue..
    Mari seems like a good defender and his distribution is good.
    Nelson is trying to prove a point

    COYG

    1. Xhaka can rest if Mari plays

      If Xhaka leaves, Mari has to be made permanent and Arsenal should get another left-footed DM

  33. Using a right-footed RW like Nelson is a good decision, since Pepe still can’t play well as an inverted RW. Hence we can get to the byline more often and Nelson produced one good assist

    Nelson is slower than Pepe, but he should be enough for a slow team like Portsmouth. Next time, the coaches should try faster wide player like Bellerin or Maitland-Niles there

    Barcelona are also facing the same problem as Arsenal, which is lacking a winger who is excellent on one-on-one situation like Neymar and Traore. Arsenal have to prioritize this big issue in the summer and sell Pepe to get a better winger if necessary

  36. another reason why Nketiah should start over Laca and why he should be sold to raise funds.

    Nketiah is always a threat and someone who should be getting more minutes.

  37. Anyone who denies that Dean is a cheat and will do anything to ensure The Arsenal don’t win, must be completely bonkers!!!

    They have tony pullis saying that he feels sorry for pompey and that just about sums up the biased rubbish being witnessed tonight – if we lose, it will be in no part due to the decision by riley to put this fraud of a referee in charge.

    For all of you complaining about our side, for heavens sake get a life and support the club – have you ever been kicked all round the park with no protection from the “ref”?
    Ask Torreria what he thinks of this sham example of a “professional referee”!!!! Utter disgrace!!!!

  39. Bloody hell, Mike Dean refereeing and Jermaine Jenas commentating, it’s enough to make you want to go and jump off the nearest bridge ๐Ÿ˜‚

  40. Can someone tell me what willock does cuz he can’t pass, shoot, position ,organise,dribble, hold the ball up or even defend.

  42. are we paying this guy, Nelson, any salary?

    By far, the worst (overhyped) academy player I have seen play..

    Totally *clueless*

  43. admin, why was my comment removed? I asked if Nelson was being paid salaries….which is definitely a rip-off….

    1. Your comment was not removed because it never went live. I have approved your comments.

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