Arsenal Predicted XI: Arsenal face League One’s Portsmouth in the 5th round of the FA Cup on Monday night, who will make the starting XI?

Arsenal Predicted XI: Arsenal face League One’s Portsmouth in the 5th round of the FA Cup on Monday night, who will make the starting XI?

The Gunners are coming off the back of their most disappointing result of the season, getting knocked out the Europa League to Greek side Olympiakos on Thursday night.

Winning the FA Cup is now the club’s only chance of winning a trophy this season, so will manager Mikel Arteta name his strongest side, or continue to play a few fringe and younger players.

We predict Arteta’s starting XI for the clash down at Fratton Park…

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez has played in the majority of Arsenal’s FA Cup games, meaning Gunners’ No1, Bernd Leno will drop to the bench.

Defenders: The blend of first-team players and youngsters is a difficult balance to manage for Mikel Arteta, and in defence he may feel he needs a good mix of first team players. We feel a back four of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Rob Holding, Papastathopoulos and Bukayo Saka will start the game.

Midfielders: Arteta will know that Pompey will be giving it their all on Monday night and he will want players in his midfield who are up for the fight. Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi are certainly two of those players. We also think yongster Joe Willock will get the nod out wide.

Forwards: That leaves three upfront for the Gunners and we think Arteta will put his faith in the youngster, with Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe tasked to put Portsmouth to the sword and progress to the sixth round of England’s stellar cup competition.

Predicted XI: Emiliano Martinez, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Rob Holding, Papastathopoulos, Bukayo Saka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli, Nicolas Pepe