Arsenal XI vs Portsmouth: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest for FA Cup | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta could start 16-year-old in third-round clash at Fratton Park

Mikel Arteta is set to ring the changes when Arsenal play Portsmouth in the FA Cup.

That could mean a first start for Eberechi Eze since the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace last month, while Noni Madueke is also in contention to come into the side.

Arsenal hope to have Kai Havertz in the squad but he is not believed to be ready to start, so Gabriel Jesus will likely lead the line unless Arteta opts to keep trying to play Viktor Gyokeres into form.

Arsenal bid to avoid a third-round upset when they play Portsmouth

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

The Gunners will again be without Riccardo Calafiori, with Arteta confirming that this match will be "too early" for him.

Piero Hincapie is also a major doubt, having gone off against Liverpool with a suspected hamstring injury. He was due to undergo scans on Friday.

"We have to see the extent of what happened to Piero," Arteta said. "He could not carry on in the second half, so I don’t know exactly what it is."

That leaves Myles Lewis-Skelly as the obvious starter at left-back and there could be an opportunity for 16-year-old Marli Salmon if Arteta decides to rest one of Gabriel or William Saliba.

Kepa will start in goal, as he has been doing in the Carabao Cup, and the likes of Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino are options in midfield.

Ethan Nwaneri will hope for some minutes, even off the bench. He has not featured since the win over Club Brugge a month ago.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Kepa; White, Saliba, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli

Injured: Calafiori, Mosquera, Dowman

Doubts: Hincapie, Havertz

Time and date: 2pm GMT on Sunday, January 11, 2026

Venue: Fratton Park