Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Gunner Traore joins Pompey

22 Aug 2008 - 07:19:50

Click To Enlarge

Portsmouth have signed Arsenal left-back Armand Traore on a season-long loan deal.

The 18-year-old Frenchman has made 19 appearances for the Gunners in his two years with the club and will hope to gain regular first-team action at Fratton Park.

Traore told his new club's official website: "I know a lot of players in the team, I trained with Sol Campbell and Lauren at Arsenal and I know Younes Kaboul and Lassana Diarra.

"I spoke to Younes, he said that it's a very good club and that I would do well here.

"Harry Redknapp is a good manager and the fact that he told me he had confidence in me, that was a big reason for me to come here.

"Portsmouth are a very good team. They are in the UEFA Cup and that's great for the club.

"I want us to be up in the top half of the table and to win a trophy. It would be great to defend the FA Cup, I think that it's a great competition."