Arsenal set to start FA Cup campaign at Portsmouth

Arsenal will start their 2025/26 FA Cup campaign on the South Coast as they travel to face Portsmouth in the third round.

The Gunners enter the tournament along with their fellow Premier League clubs and the 24 Championship sides and they have been dealt a trip to second-tier Pompey to begin their road to silverware.

Mikel Arteta's side will be hoping their visit to Fratton Park will kickstart a challenge for the trophy they have won a record 14 times in the past.

Arsenal to visit Portsmouth in FA Cup third round

The draw was made ahead of the second round's final clash between National League side Brackley Town and Burton Albion of League One.

Fans had to wait some time for Arsenal to be drawn with ex-Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch pulling the Gunners' number out to set up the trip to his former side.

The tie will see the two clubs meet for the first time since March 2020 when they met in the fifth round of that season's FA Cup. That victory came en route to Arteta's first piece of silverware in his debut season as Arsenal boss.

Despite a decent start to their second season since their return to the Championship, Portsmouth are currently 22nd after a poor run of form that has seen them win just two of their last 10 matches.

Considering the tremendous gap in quality between the sides and their contrasting form, the Gunners will be the strong favourites to progress to the next stage. They will also have the chance to rotate their side, offering the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Nørgaard and even Max Dowman starting opportunities.

Currently top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, Arsenal are looking to win their first piece of major silverware since 2020 and the FA Cup will be a great opportunity for them to do so with Portsmouth providing them their first test.

The tie will be played the weekend of 10 January with a kick-off date and time set to be confirmed in due course.