Arsenal will be looking to put the disappointment of the Europa League exit behind them as they now turn attention to the FA Cup, playing Portsmouth at Fratton Park in a last-16 encounter.
The Gunners have done well since Mikel Arteta’s arrival, recently turning promising performances that previously got us draws into decent results. So the task now is to move on from the Olympiakos setback and continue that progression on the domestic front.
Arsenal, of course, the most successful club in FA Cup history, are favourites to beat the League One side but with the added importance of this now our only shot at silverware, Arteta will certainly try to go all the way. First, we need to get pass Pompey and history suggest we should do just that as they haven’t beaten the Gunners in any competition since March 1958.
However, Portsmouth will be up for this game and their captain Tom Naylor has also warned that the Fratton Park faithful brings a certain atmosphere we might not be used to.
Well, while that remain matter of opinion a quick glance at their wiki page tells that they are on a decent run on their own patch; a 19-match unbeaten streak all season, including 10 wins from their 10 games (all competitions). That certainly gives their fans something to crow about.
They come into this match on the back of a 3-0 win to move within three off the top-two on the League One table, with a match in hand over second-placed Rotherham United. In five home games last month they scored 14 goals with only three in reply. So if anything, we do have to keep our wits about us.
Team news
Arteta may have initially been tempted to make wholesale changes, but the Europa result means that he is more likely to name a stronger side.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who instead of given the night off, could play some part, with Eddie Nkeitah still favoured to lead the attack with Gabriel Martinelli up top with him.
Granit Xhaka played each minute of each game since the turn of the year and do need a breather, with Lucas Torreira given a start.
Shkodran Mustafi is an injury doubt, so this is a good opportunity to hand Pablo Mari, who have build up his fitness with the u23’s, his debut.
Prediction
Portsmouth are on an incredible run, especially in home comforts, and will certainly fancy themselves. So this will be no easy game for Arsenal following the trauma from Thursday night.
However, Arteta has since done a great job putting his arm around the shoulders of our players, to lift their spirits. So now it is for them to reciprocate that faith he got in them.
With this a potential banana skin we could be in for an entertaining night, with the Gunners doing just enough to hand Pompey their first home defeat of the season. COYG!
— @LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
What a petty small minded prick Dean really is.
Not a blink when Rooney et al telling him to Fuck off etc etc
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I am not best up on the laws of the game, though pretty clued up on Mike Deans laws when our boys are playing.
But did Gwen actually break any laws of the game?
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Mandy, never heard of anything which seems to cover that. Presumably though it’ll come under whatever rules cover swearing etc.
This is same Dean mind who elected not to report Ferguson for confronting him once, on pitch I think, swearing profusely most likely. Was covered in one of ref books I read, and Dean said something along lines of ‘it didn’t bother me’.
Cowards, crooks, assholes, who knows what lies at heart of it all.
As of Sat, Dean and Atkinson will have done 9 of our 28 games. Just over 1 in 3. A disaster for us given what bums those two are. Looks on course for my prediction earlier in year that after blasting us with them for opening period (6 of 1st 10), they were rested for a bit in preparation of final stages, if need be.
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2-1 ahead last I looked for our u23 team in cup vs Monaco. Will do very well to get result tonight considering all bar Bola are teenagers for us and they have 5 or 6 22/23 year old playing. Their scorer played 24 games for first team as well.
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Premier League propose re-arranging Man City’s postponed clash with Arsenal for next Wednesday
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currently losing 2-3 but great to see Daniel Ballard make his comeback from injury, he has come on as a second half sub, Zech Medley has scored our two goals
Arsenal Academy@ArsenalAcademy
Here’s how #AFCU23 lineup this evening in the #PLInternationalCup
XI: Hein, Oyegoke, Clarke, Medley, Bola, Smith, Azeez, Cottrell, Greenwood, Balogun, Coyle
Substitutes: Hillson, Alebiosu, Plange, Omole, Ballard
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That would be discusting, fans having no time to arrange travel etc. Even the home fans will struggle.
The guarantee for me that Dean was once again cheating was the quick free kick he allowed Pompey to take from the wrong place right outside our area. I have seen him make CBs retake freekicks in their own half when there was no danger to the opposition. The fact he uses different applications for the same rule shows he is a cheat and lives to manipulate games.
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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9m
YES! @FBalogun67
makes no mistake from the spot
👏
🔴3-3 🔵(68) | 🏆
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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1m
GOOOOOALLLLLLL! @FBALOGUN67
GIVES US THE LEAD!
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4-3
🔵
(90) |
🏆
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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1m
FULL-TIME: #AFCU23 4-3 @AS_Monaco
We progress into the semi-finals of the #PLInternationalCup thanks to @FBalogun67
‘s late winner
😍
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What a great win for a team much younger than opposition. Happiness punctured a little right afterwards on hearing Derby or West Ham semi. Derby a horrible bunch from what I’ve seen and would be one of those where young lads in more danger than should be.
Still, cracking result, and good news Ballard returned, and apparently was good. He’s one who is well equipped for a fight.
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Arteta’s comment last night on Ainsley Maitland-Niles…
Ainsley needs to put his head down and work hard and show me every day in training that he wants it more than anyone else, he wants to play for this club and fight for his place.
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Giroud is still the best target man to have played in the EPL…imagine him setting up Aubameyang and Lacazette…..
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Manchester City
@ManCity
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🚨
FIXTURE NEWS
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City v Arsenal
@premierleague
Wednesday 11 March
19:30 UK
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