[Teams] Portsmouth vs Arsenal: Confirmed Fratton Park line-up as Arteta makes changes

Premier League leaders Arsenal will look to avoid disappointment when they take on Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round at Fratton Park this afternoon.

The Gunners went into the match on the back of a disappointing 0-0 draw against Liverpool, but the result still left them with a six-point lead at the top of the table. Now the focus turns to FA Cup matters as they take on Championship side Portsmouth for a place in the next round.

Mikel Arteta has taken the opportunity to rest some key players and utilize the full depth of his squad, with the Spaniard making ten changes from the squad that started against Liverpool on Thursday evening.

David Raya makes way for Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, while Ben White is recalled at right-back with Jurrien Timber dropped to the bench. Piero Hincapie suffered an injury against Liverpool, so he has been ruled out alongside Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori.

That means Myles Lewis-Skelly starts at left back, while Christian Norgaard lines up alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the center of Arsenal’s back four. William Saliba is given complete rest, while 16-year-old Marli Salmon is named among the subs.

Mikel Merino starts in midfield together with Ethan Nwaneri. The youngster will have a chance to impress after struggling for regular minutes this season. Eberechi Eze also starts for Arsenal, meaning Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are dropped to the bench.

Bukayo Saka gets a breather, as does Leandro Trossard, so Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli start on the wings for Arsenal. Viktor Gyokeres struggled against Liverpool as his poor form continued, so Gabriel Jesus is recalled to start up front.

Kai Havertz is back in the squad and he will look to come off the bench for the first time since his knee injury in the opening weekend of the season.

Here are the confirmed lineups for the game:

Portsmouth

Bursik, Devlin, Poole, Shaughnessy, Swanson, Chaplin, Dozzell, Le Roux, Blair, Segecic, Bishop, Chaplin.

Subs: Killip, Williams, Bowat, Oglivie, Pack, Farrell, Umeh, Swift, Kirk.

Arsenal

Arrizabalaga, White, Norgaard, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus.

Subs: Raya, wood, salmon, Zubmeni, rice, Odegarard, Saka, Havertz, Gyokeres.