PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Fratton Park Date: Saturday, 2 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Solent 96.1FM and Hants DAB Digital Radio, score updates on Final Score, BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 Live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website; Highlights on Match of the Day

 

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Jermaine Pennant and Younes Kaboul could be recalled to Portsmouth’s starting line-up but Niko Kranjcar has been ruled out with an ankle injury.

Armand Traore is ineligible to play against Arsenal under the terms of his loan move from the Gunners.

Arsenal will be without Robin van Persie, Eduardo and Mikael Silvestre, who all have groin injuries.

Gael Clichy (back) is sidelined along with William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky.

 

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Portsmouth (from): James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Kaboul, Pennant, Mullins, Hughes, Davis, Belhadj, Crouch, Kanu, Utaka, Basinas, Pamarot, Cranie, Gekas, Wilson, Begovic (gk).

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs, Arshavin, Denilson, Song, Eboue, Bendtner, Vela, Fabianski, Nasri, Fabregas, Walcott, Adebayor, Diaby, Ramsey.

 

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Portsmouth manager Paul Hart:
“Whatever team Arsenal put out they will have a strong side.

“They have proved in the past that they have strength in depth. They give young players a chance and on the whole they do not disappoint

“I have got to prepare my team for a tough game.

“We still need the points, I don’t think we are safe until mathematically it is not possible for us to go down. We need to keep our foot on the pedal.”

 

 

Arsenal need one more victory to be mathematically certain of a top four finish and a place in the Play Off round for next seasons Champions League, Although, if they were to win this season’s competition, entry to the group phase would be automatic. To that end Tuesday’s second leg of the semi-final with Manchester United at the Emirates will be their priority, over and above a league clash on the south coast.

Portsmouth need six points from the last 12 available to be guaranteed Premier League football next season, but going into this game with a seven-point cushion between themselves and the bottom three, Pompey supporters must feel a seventh successive top-flight campaign is all but assured already.

Wenger has singled out Stephen Ireland for praise ahead of todays match syaing he belives he will nbe a threat:

“He’s a very good player with good work rate, good vision and a good technical level,” said the Arsenal manager. “[He has] good efficiency as well in terms of assists.

“I personally rate him. I believe he has had a good season and since I have known him, he is a good player. I am surprised that he didn’t play in the national team.”

Match Preview

PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday, 4 April Kick-off: 1500 BST

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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas returns after three months out with a knee injury and Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner are back.

But Robin van Perise and Eduardo (both groin), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Samir Nasri (virus) are all out.

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy (knee) is a major doubt but Robinho is should be fit despite limping out of Brazil’s midweek World Cup qualifier.

Wayne Bridge could also be in line to return from a hamstring injury.

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Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Denilson, Fabregas, Arshavin, Bendtner, Adebayor, Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Vela, Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Nasri.

Manchester City (from): Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Elano, De Jong, Kompany, Robinho, Bojinov, Bridge, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Etuhu, Berti, Vassell, McGivern, Hart.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
“We have put ourselves in a very strong position because of the hard work we have done.

“But it is the final part of the season where every single game becomes massively important, nearly a decider.

“We have eight games in 24 days and our success will be determined by the squad and not by any given player.”

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:
“It will not be a case of us trying to stop them playing because I have talent at my disposal.

“It is about having a game plan that will prevent Arsenal dictating the tempo of the play for 90 minutes.

“It isn’t a matter of getting in the faces of the Arsenal players and being physical, it is about having an effect on their game that enhances your own.”