Controversy, drama, heartbreak and diving for penalties: The 10 most memorable games between Portsmouth and Arsenal

Chief sports writer

Published 8th Jan 2026, 10:34 BST

For the first time in almost six years, Arsenal visit Fratton Park on Sunday in the FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League, in the finals of the Carabao Cup and also flying in the Champions League as they push for silverware on a number of fronts this season.

Since 1959, the sides have met on 20 occasions, mainly during Pompey’s seven-year Premier League stint, with plenty of notable and infamous moments in those matches.

Here are 10 of the most memorable...

Pompey's Ivica Mornar battles with Arsenal's Sol Campbell in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March 2004 (Picture Phil Cole/Getty Images)

1. Ivica Mornar battles with Arsenal's Sol Campbell in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March 2004

Pompey's Ivica Mornar battles with Arsenal's Sol Campbell in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March 2004 (Picture Phil Cole/Getty Images) Photo: Phil Cole

Mikel Arteta named a youthful side with six players aged 20 and below and defeated a Pompey team previously unbeaten in 19 Fratton Park games. The Premier League club lost Lucas Torreira to injury after 12 minutes following a James Bolton tackle which was criticised by their supporters, before they opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time through Sokratis Papastathopoulos. The win over Kenny Jackett’s men was sealed in the 51st minute through Eddie Nketiah’s finish - and would go on to win the FA Cup final against Chelsea behind closed doors following the coronavirus outbreak. James Bolton told The News: ‘I still look at it sometimes, people tag me in on videos of it, and I don’t know what anyone’s complaining about. ‘Torreira broke through down their left wing and I had to run a long way to get there, but, for me, it was perfect. My run, the timing of the tackle, I managed to get the ball with a good tackle. ‘I was lucky, I got it bang on, but I suppose if I was half a second later then it could have been a really bad tackle because I was going at some pace. ‘It wasn’t given as a foul, I didn’t get a yellow, Arsenal didn’t even appeal for a foul. Their players didn’t say anything. Everyone’s reaction on the pitch was that it was a good tackle. It was only when he went down and stayed down that people became concerned.’ Picture: Joe Pepler

2. Pompey 0 Arsenal 2 - FA Cup - March 2020

Mikel Arteta named a youthful side with six players aged 20 and below and defeated a Pompey team previously unbeaten in 19 Fratton Park games. The Premier League club lost Lucas Torreira to injury after 12 minutes following a James Bolton tackle which was criticised by their supporters, before they opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time through Sokratis Papastathopoulos. The win over Kenny Jackett’s men was sealed in the 51st minute through Eddie Nketiah’s finish - and would go on to win the FA Cup final against Chelsea behind closed doors following the coronavirus outbreak. James Bolton told The News: ‘I still look at it sometimes, people tag me in on videos of it, and I don’t know what anyone’s complaining about. ‘Torreira broke through down their left wing and I had to run a long way to get there, but, for me, it was perfect. My run, the timing of the tackle, I managed to get the ball with a good tackle. ‘I was lucky, I got it bang on, but I suppose if I was half a second later then it could have been a really bad tackle because I was going at some pace. ‘It wasn’t given as a foul, I didn’t get a yellow, Arsenal didn’t even appeal for a foul. Their players didn’t say anything. Everyone’s reaction on the pitch was that it was a good tackle. It was only when he went down and stayed down that people became concerned.’ Picture: Joe Pepler Photo: Joe Pepler

The Gunners claimed the title of the Invincibles after going the entire 2003-04 season unbeaten as they lifted the Premier League crown. However, Pompey felt cheated after a 1-1 draw, having threatened to beat Arsene Wenger’s side five games into the campaign. Teddy Sheringham handed the visitors a 26th-minute lead, yet that was cancelled out 14 minutes later when Robert Pires went down under a challenge from Dejan Stefanovic and Theirry Henry converted the resulting penalty to level. However, Harry Redknapp’s men were incensed over referee Alan Wiley’s decision to award the spot-kick, with Pires having dived to win it. Dejan Stefanovic told Played Up Pompey Too: ‘Teddy Sheringham had given us the lead at Highbury then, with half-time approaching, Pires attacked down the left and went down under my challenge inside the box. The referee, Alan Wiley, awarded a penalty, which Thierry Henry converted. ‘It wasn’t a foul, I didn’t even touch him, he dived over my leg, it’s as simple as that. Arsenal were unbeaten through that 2003-04 season as they took the Premier League title, the Invincibles they were christened, but a dive stopped us beating them. ‘After the game, Pires apologised to me: “That wasn’t my decision, it was the referee’s, what can I do?”. I accepted that. ‘He’s a good guy and what happened, happened. You have to look forward to the next game and move on rather than keep analysing that match. That’s football.’ Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

3. Arsenal 1 Pompey 1 - September 2003

The Gunners claimed the title of the Invincibles after going the entire 2003-04 season unbeaten as they lifted the Premier League crown. However, Pompey felt cheated after a 1-1 draw, having threatened to beat Arsene Wenger’s side five games into the campaign. Teddy Sheringham handed the visitors a 26th-minute lead, yet that was cancelled out 14 minutes later when Robert Pires went down under a challenge from Dejan Stefanovic and Theirry Henry converted the resulting penalty to level. However, Harry Redknapp’s men were incensed over referee Alan Wiley’s decision to award the spot-kick, with Pires having dived to win it. Dejan Stefanovic told Played Up Pompey Too: ‘Teddy Sheringham had given us the lead at Highbury then, with half-time approaching, Pires attacked down the left and went down under my challenge inside the box. The referee, Alan Wiley, awarded a penalty, which Thierry Henry converted. ‘It wasn’t a foul, I didn’t even touch him, he dived over my leg, it’s as simple as that. Arsenal were unbeaten through that 2003-04 season as they took the Premier League title, the Invincibles they were christened, but a dive stopped us beating them. ‘After the game, Pires apologised to me: “That wasn’t my decision, it was the referee’s, what can I do?”. I accepted that. ‘He’s a good guy and what happened, happened. You have to look forward to the next game and move on rather than keep analysing that match. That’s football.’ Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images Photo: Clive Mason

An Arsenal side heading for the prestigious Double believed they had secured passage into the next round of the FA Cup through Peter Storey’s first-half penalty. However, Division Two Pompey had other ideas and, in stoppage time, full-back Fred Smith crossed from the right and Mike Trebilcock finished at the far post for a dramatic leveller to secure a memorable 1-1 draw. Michael Trebilcock told Played Up Pompey Too: ‘We were down and out - I can remember glancing at the clock and it was nearly over, we thought we had lost. ‘Then Arsenal’s John Radford made a mistake, allowing Fred Smith to rob him and pick the ball up down the right. ‘He delivered a cross which found its way to me at the far post - I could hear a voice saying “Keep your head down, Trebs” and took a touch. Then I followed it up by crashing a left-foot shot two yards inside the post, with Bob McNab’s desperate slide failing to prevent it entering the net. We had grabbed an equaliser right at the death. ‘Then I produced a forward roll in front of the Fratton end, the likes of which I’m certain no-one had seen before!’ Picture: Pompey History Society Archive.

4. Pompey 1 Arsenal 1 - FA Cup - January 1971

An Arsenal side heading for the prestigious Double believed they had secured passage into the next round of the FA Cup through Peter Storey’s first-half penalty. However, Division Two Pompey had other ideas and, in stoppage time, full-back Fred Smith crossed from the right and Mike Trebilcock finished at the far post for a dramatic leveller to secure a memorable 1-1 draw. Michael Trebilcock told Played Up Pompey Too: ‘We were down and out - I can remember glancing at the clock and it was nearly over, we thought we had lost. ‘Then Arsenal’s John Radford made a mistake, allowing Fred Smith to rob him and pick the ball up down the right. ‘He delivered a cross which found its way to me at the far post - I could hear a voice saying “Keep your head down, Trebs” and took a touch. Then I followed it up by crashing a left-foot shot two yards inside the post, with Bob McNab’s desperate slide failing to prevent it entering the net. We had grabbed an equaliser right at the death. ‘Then I produced a forward roll in front of the Fratton end, the likes of which I’m certain no-one had seen before!’ Picture: Pompey History Society Archive. Photo: Pompey History Society Archive

Champions League Arsenal Portsmouth Fratton Park Premier League Carabao Cup Mikel Arteta Pompey