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Confirmed line-ups: Portsmouth vs Arsenal – Nwaneri starts as Arteta makes 10 changes

By on January 11, 2026

Ethan-Nwaneri-arsenal

Arsenal are on the South Coast to take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the 3rd round of the FA Cup this afternoon.

Mikel Arteta has rotated his squad and made 10 changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Liverpool last time out.

Kepa Arrizabalaga comes in for David Raya between the sticks while Ben White replaces Jurrien Timber at right-back. Myles Lewis-Skelly starts at left-back and he’ll be looking to put-in a strong performance.

Christian Norgaard gets a rare start as he lines-up alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in defence. William Saliba is given the day off.

Mikel Merino starts in midfield with Martin Zubimendi handed a rest. Ethan Nwaneri is also recalled to start for Arsenal with Declan Rice dropping to the bench.

Eberechi Eze comes in for Martin Odegaard in the attacking midfield position while Noni Madueke is recalled to start on the right flank. Bukayo Saka is given a rest and starts from the substitutes bench.

Gabriel Martinelli lines-up on the left flank with Leandro Trossard making way while Gabriel Jesus replaces the under-fire Viktor Gyokeres up front. Kai Havertz is back in the squad and will hope to get some minutes off the bench.

Youngster Marli Salmon is on the bench as a defensive option with Perio Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori all out.

These are the teams:

Arsenal

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

Subs: Raya, Timber, Salmon, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Gyokeres.

Portsmouth

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

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