Kick-off: 1945, 02/03/2020
Stadium: Fratton Park
TV: BT Sport
Arsenal’s surprise Europa League exit may prove unfortunate for Monday night’s FA Cup fifth-round opponents Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
The Gunners should now be able to prioritise this competition more and are expected to prove too strong for the League One outfit in this televised tie.
We’re snapping up Evens for the visitors to be leading at half-time and full-time for our initial Portsmouth vs Arsenal prediction.
A Look At Portsmouth’s Betting Odds
Portsmouth are chasing promotion in their own division after Friday’s 3-0 triumph over Rochdale at this venue made it eight wins from their last 10 league games.
Pompey have also booked a trip to Wembley in the EFL Trophy, recently edging out Exeter 3-2 to set up a clash with Salford in the final.
In this tournament, Kenny Jackett’s men saw off Harrogate, Altrincham and Fleetwood before beating Championship side Barnsley 4-2 here.
Portsmouth netted 10 times in those four ties and only Peterborough have scored more home goals in League One this term.
Ronan Curtis has contributed 13 strikes from midfield, so this is an attack-minded team which may have some moments of their own going forward.
The Gunners should still prove a class apart, but that makes Portsmouth vs Arsenal odds.
A Look At Arsenal’s Betting Odds
Arsenal have to recover from going out of the Europa League on away goals following Thursday’s disappointing extra-time defeat to Olympiakos at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners looked in control of the tie after winning the first leg 1-0 in Greece, but went down by the same scoreline in normal time on home turf.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them back in front on aggregate with just seven minutes of the additional half an hour remaining, but there was still time for Youssef El Arabi’s last-gasp sickener.
“I have to lift them, it’s my job,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “That’s the first thing I have to do.
“I just want to concentrate now on lifting those players and getting back the belief – and convince them that there is still a lot to play for and move on.
“It’s part of this sport that a big disappointment can happen and it happened here. We have to learn and react as a team and as a club.”
Arsenal had previously shown clear signs of improvement under Arteta and are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches.
During that period, they also beat Leeds 1-0 at home and Bournemouth 2-1 away in the FA Cup, so one bad result shouldn’t cause too much panic, however costly it could prove in terms of lost revenue.
Arteta will probably make changes to his starting line-up, but that could give Eddie Nketiah another chance to show his worth.
The 20-year-old forward scored in a couple of EFL Cup ties for Leeds while on loan there for the first half of the season.
Since returning to the Gunners, he has netted at Bournemouth in this competition and in a 3-2 league win over Everton.
Let’s add 10/1 for a 3-1 away victory.
Additional stats
Last result:
PORTSMOUTH 3-0 Rochdale – Ryan Williams, Steve Seddon, Christian Burgess
ARSENAL 1-2 Olympiakos – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Head-to-head: Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal, Arsenal 4-1 Portsmouth
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