Arsenal vs Leeds (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Arsenal return to FA Cup action on Monday night as they travel to Portsmouth…
Arsenal are the most successful team in FA Cup history, with Mikel Arteta winning the competition twice as a midfielder. Now he is the manager, he will want to go a long way in the competition and perhaps even win it.
They will travel to the South coast to force Portsmouth, who also seem to enjoy the prestigious competition. Consequently, this should make for a great matchup.
Mikel Arteta will likely field a weaker lineup since many of his players need rest. Here are three youngsters that are likely to make a start in this match…
1. Reiss Nelson
If there’s anybody that needs a game, it’s Nelson. Arsenal fans know how great a player he can be but he has not been given enough chance to show it.
This is nobody’s fault, though. The 20-year-old has just had an unlucky time with injuries this season so he hasn’t been able to stake a claim for the first team. However, it’s likely he will start in this match.
Mikel Arteta will have high hopes for Nelson going forward and he will help him develop. It is in games like this the speedy trickster will aim to develop.
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<p>Of course, Saka is not only a member of the Arsenal squad but he is one of the most important at the moment. With Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac both plagued with injury, there isn’t anyone else that can fill the left-back void.</p>
<p>It would be nice for Saka to get a break and I’m sure he will soon but for the time being, I’m enjoying seeing him play so I can have no complaints.</p>
<p>He will likely start for Arteta against Portsmouth and he will be hoping to add to his assist tally. His runs forward have been impressive and although he is forced out of position, he is still given the license to play in his natural setting 99% of the time.</p>
<p>He won’t have much defending to do against Portsmouth, Arteta will hope, but if he does, then it’ll serve as training for him. Because, of course, he could even take up this position full-time going forward into the future.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/01/portsmouth-vs-arsenal-3-youngsters-mikel-arteta-start/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Ainsley Maitland-Niles </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-479197" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/03/01/portsmouth-vs-arsenal-3-youngsters-mikel-arteta-start/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F1193144121-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Ainsley Maitland-Niles</h3>
<p>I don’t know, but it feels like a century since Maitland-Niles last started for Arsenal. I did some research and it turns out his last start for Arsenal was against Sheffield United. Remember, the draw? I mean, that doesn’t narrow it down at all.</p>
<p>Maitland-Niles spends most of his time as a full-back, although I think he is better as a midfielder. In this match, he will likely come in to replace Hector Bellerin who, between me and you, was probably the worst player on the pitch against Olympiakos.</p>
<p>Maitland-Niles is a composed player that likes to dribble the ball forward. He will likely be pushing forward, although, he will be aware that Arteta likes to attack down the left rather than his side.</p>
<p>Maitland-Niles has matured into an excellent defender so he will be well-equipped to see off any potential Portsmouth attacks.</p>
<p>To conclude, I don’t think Arteta will weaken his side too much. This is the beauty of having first-team ready youngsters like those mentioned and Joe Willock and Gabriel Martinelli.</p>
<p>The FA Cup is an important competition for Arsenal this season and Arteta will trust in his youngsters to come up with the goods.</p>
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<p>How do you think Arsenal will lineup against Portsmouth?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">