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Eze, meanwhile, hasn’t quite got going at Arsenal, currently understudying Leandro Trossard. In a sense, his signing was a risk as, at 27, he’s not getting that much better, but when you’re competing for the big pots it’s not just about the best 1-11 but about the ability to rest players whole having serious talent able to affect games from the bench, Even if Eze doesn’t establish himself as a first pick, there’s every chance he earns Arsenal a few points with crucial contributions off the bench.
Areteta has gone hyper-attacking in midfield, with Mikel Merino the single pivot, flanked by Ethan Nwaneri and Eberechi Eze. The former’s career has stalled a little after a thrilling introduction to senior football – I wonder whether, if further opportunities aren’t forthcoming, he might leave in the summer. But in the meantime, I’m excited to see how he does in a central role, because he’s got a lot of talent.
I’m a little surprised Victor Gyokeres wasn’t offered the chance to nab a confidence-building goal. Arsenal need more from him than they’re getting and, as the pressure increases the closer we get to the end of the season, there won’t be many chances to give him opportunities. But Mikel Arteta goes for Gabriel Jesus up front, whose return might yet be crucial, and Kai Havertz is back on the bench after a long-term injury.
As for Arsenal, Gabriel is the only man who started against Liverpool who starts this afternoon. Otherwise, it’s an entirely new side, with Christian Norgaard pressed into action as an emergency centre-back in the absences of Hincapie and Mosquera.
John Mousinho makes three changes to his Portsmouth side. Despite the 5-0 Bristol City gubbing, the back seven stay the same, with the changes all coming in attack; out go Swift, Bowat and Kirk, all three of whom are on the bench; in come Bishop, Chaplain and Blair, which is not, as it turns out, some kind of time-travelling comedy situation.
Teams!
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Bursik; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Poole, Swanson; Dozzell, Le Roux; Segecic, Bishop, Chaplin; Blair. Subs: Killip, Williams, Bowat, Ogilvie, Farrell, Pack, Swift, Umeh, Kirk.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; White, Norgaaard, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Nwaneri, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli. Subs: Raya, Saka, Odegaard, Timber, Gyokeres, Havertz, Zubimendi, Rice, Salmon.
Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)
Preamble
In 2008, Portsmouth won the FA Cup; in 2010, they were relegated from the Premier League.
These things were connected: European qualification cost the club a load in bonuses, players were sold, and the owner, not necessarily the kind of bloke you’d want owning your football club, ceased funding it, after which followed 15 largely miserable years. Pompey now sit fourth-bottom of the Championship.
I’d be amazed, though, if there’s a single fan not comfortable with these consequences. Of course, they’d like things to be different, but they’ll be reliving about that day at Wembley and the consequent European campaign until the day they die; it’s worth a lot more than a few more top-division, mid-table finishes. Football is about sharing moments and days with people you love, and no competition has been delivering them for longer nor with greater intensity than the FA Cup.
Pompey will, though, have to find something major to get a result today. Last time out, they were clattered 5-0 at Bristol City, while Arsenal, the country’s top team, can rest every midweek starter and still select an intimidatingly good XI. If they play well today, it won’t be close but, on the other hand, Fratton Park is designed to make that as difficult as possible and, if the home side can start well, you never know.
Kick-off: 2pm GMT
