Pressing issues

Paul Merson says Portsmouth must play in Arsenal's half to have a chance on Wednesday.

Sitting back is not an option for Pompey, says Merse

The year may be coming to an end but with the Premier League in full swing the action continues to flow thick and fast this week on Sky Sports. On Wednesday rock-bottom Portsmouth will have their work cut out when they entertain the highest-scoring side in the league - Arsenal. But will it be as clear-cut as the table suggests? After all, Pompey have enjoyed something of a home revival under Avram Grant. Sky Sports expert Paul Merson looks ahead to the contest and shares his thoughts...

Portsmouth v Arsenal: 7.30pm, Wed, Sky Sports 1 & HD1

Portsmouth are a band of rebels at the moment - you simply have no idea what team is going to turn up for each game. They were outstanding against Liverpool and then went to West Ham and got well beat. Recent results show they have a chance of getting something out of this one because they have beaten Liverpool and Burnley at Fratton Park this month. That makes me think this isn't going to be a walkover. I watched Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-0 on Sunday and they didn't look like scoring until Cesc Fabregas came on as a substitute after 57 minutes and it's highly unlikely that he will be playing on Wednesday. If Andrey Arshavin plays on his own up front as a centre-forward the ball is simply going to come bouncing back to Pompey, which will play into their hands. For me this match all depends on whether Portsmouth are willing to go for the win. If they try to take the game by the throat, squeeze up and constantly play in Arsenal's half then they could cause an upset. They have to have a go because if they sit back, try to break out from the back and let Arsenal have too much of the ball then Arsene Wenger's side will run away with it. No, Pompey have to try and make Manuel Almunia kick the ball confident in the knowledge their centre-halves will win everything in the air which should starve Arsenal of possession. Arsenal aren't unbeaten in their last five Premier League games for no reason but they are nowhere near the same team without Robin van Persie and Fabregas. Arsene gambled by playing Fabregas on Sunday and it was a gamble won even if it turns out that he is out for a few games as a result. He scores a couple, the team gets three points and Arsenal are right in the thick of the title race. Job done. Arsenal will play this one the way they know how, which is pass-pass, but Arsene will be desperate for more of his players to get into the box more often than they did against Villa when they never looked scoring in a month of Sundays. Their attacking play sort of fizzled out around the box. MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Abou Diaby He's more than capable of scoring and he doesn't give the ball away - you need players like him away from home. People who are going to close down, put their foot in and fight for the cause. That's even more the case with Arsenal who are a pretty lightweight team. PAUL'S PREDICTION
Away win If Arsenal score first they could win this one by four - if Portsmouth have a go they have got a chance. On balance, I'm going to call this one 3-2 in Arsenal's favour. Pompey should press and there are goals to be had against Arsenal, in my opinion, but the Gunners should bag a few themselves. It should be an interesting one. A draw isn't a good result for Portsmouth because then the gap between them and the nearest relegation-threatened teams starts to become very serious.