|
|
Portsmouth |
v |
Arsenal |
|
Manager |
Harry Redknapp |
|
Arsene Wenger |
|
Key Man |
Shaka Hislop |
|
Thierry Henry |
|
FA Cup Top Scorer |
Matthew Taylor (3) |
|
Ljungberg, Reyes (2) |
Match Preview
Pompey are looking over their shoulders in the Premiership’s lower reaches and they started their FA Cup campaign with two close ties at home to Second and Third Division sides.
They needed a last-minute Yakubu goal to knock out Blackpool 2-1, Sebastien Schemmel having notched the opener. Then a Matthew Taylor brace saw off Scunthorpe by the same scoreline.
In the Fifth Round another goal from Taylor grabbed Pompey a draw away to Liverpool after they had fallen behind to an early Michael Owen effort.
In the replay Richard Hughes' superb left-footer saw Redknapp's side qualify for the last eight.
Arsene Wenger's team sit on the top of the Premiership unbeaten and their League form has carried over into The FA Cup with both Leeds United and Middlesbrough comprehensively beaten 4-1 in previous rounds.
In the Fifth Round Arsenal took on Chelsea in The Cup for the fourth consecutive season and while they fell behind to Adrian Mutu's goal, a second half double from Jose Antonio Reyes saw the Gunners win 2-1 and go safely through to the Sixth Round.
Team News
Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has been passed fit despite having a fracture of the knuckle on his left-hand index finger.
Nevertheless he has impressed in recent games against Liverpool - when he saved a Michael Owen penalty - and Newcastle.
"He has had a specialist look at it," said a club spokesman.
"The verdict is that playing on won't damage the healing process now that Shaka's got his protection in place."
Redknapp is still without the services of leading players Teddy Sheringham (hamstring), Dejan Stefanovic (foot) and Hayden Foxe (ankle) whilst Lomana LuaLua and John Curtis are Cup-tied.
There is some good news in that Steve Stone could make a long-awaited return to the squad and striker Svetsolav Todorov may also return.
Arsene Wenger will have to do without Ray Parlour (knee), Sylvain Wiltord (ankle) and Jeremie Aliadiere (thigh) but otherwise has a full-strength squad to pick from.
Magic Moments
For the hosts, Richard Hughes' first goal for the club will live long in the memory. With less than twenty minutes of their FA Cup Fifth Round replay against Liverpool to go, Hughes struck to send Pompey into the Sixth Round for the first time since 1992.
Arsenal's two 4-1 victories saw some fabulous goals go in but none could compare with Jose Antonio Reyes' magnificent strike that saw the Gunners draw level in their Fifth Round match against London rivals Chelsea at Highbury.
Cup Run 2003/04
FA Cup Pedigree
Portsmouth can’t match Arsenal’s 16 Final appearances but they did make it to the Wembley showpiece three times in pre-war years.
They lost to Bolton in 1929 and Manchester City in 1934 - but the famous "Pompey Chimes" rang out as hot favourites Wolves were beaten in the last Final before hostilities in 1939.
Arsenal have enjoyed a golden few years of FA Cup success, winning the competition three times in the last six years. In all, the Gunners have won the Cup nine times.
The Gunners reached three consecutive Finals between 1978 and 1980 but only won once - Alan Sunderland's late goal edging Manchester United 3-2 in the classic 1979 Final.
Should Arsenal make it through to another Final this year, they would become the first club to feature in four successive Finals and were they to win they would emulate a Cup hat-trick last achieved by Blackburn Rovers in the 1880s.
Portsmouth v Arsenal: Past FA Cup Meetings
|
Year |
Round |
Result |
|
1932 |
Fifth Round |
Portsmouth 0-2 Arsenal |
|
1971 |
Fourth Round |
Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal |
|
1971 |
Fourth Round Replay |
Arsenal 3-2 Portsmouth |