Arsenal safely navigated a potential FA Cup banana skin at Fratton Park, with Gabriel Martinelli's hat-trick inspiring a 4-1 third-round victory over a determined Portsmouth side.
Portsmouth's Dream Start Quickly Fades
The Championship strugglers, who last defeated Arsenal in 1958, made a dream start that sent the home crowd into raptures. After just two minutes, Colby Bishop tapped home to end his personal 20-game goal drought and give John Mousinho's team a shock lead.
Arsenal's response, however, was swift. The equaliser came from a familiar source this season: a set piece. An Eberechi Eze corner caused chaos in the Portsmouth box, leading to an own goal from Andre Dozzell under pressure from Christian Nørgaard.
Martinelli Takes Centre Stage
From that point, the Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli seized control of the tie. He put Arsenal ahead with a well-placed header from a Noni Madueke corner, exposing Portsmouth's defensive frailties from dead-ball situations once more.
Portsmouth were handed a lifeline before half-time when Zak Swanson conceded a penalty, but Madueke's effort sailed wildly off target, much to the delight of the home supporters. Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished early in the second half.
Martinelli added his second and Arsenal's third just six minutes after the restart, finishing simply after a quick free-kick from Myles Lewis-Skelly and a pinpoint cross from compatriot Gabriel Jesus. He then completed his treble with another almost identical header from a Madueke corner, highlighting Arsenal's formidable set-piece prowess.
Arteta's Changes and a Piece of History
Mikel Arteta had made ten changes from the side that drew with Liverpool in the Premier League, with young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri getting a rare start. The match also saw a piece of club history, as 16-year-old Marli Salmon came off the bench to become Arsenal's youngest-ever player in the FA Cup at 16 years and 135 days.
Portsmouth's difficult task became impossible when substitute Franco Umeh suffered a hamstring injury, forcing them to finish the match with ten men after using all their substitutes. For Arsenal, the victory marks their first progression to the FA Cup fourth round since 2023, keeping their hopes of multiple trophies this season alive.
The result underscores a key strength for Arteta's league leaders: their deadly efficiency from set pieces. This season, Arsenal have now scored 17 goals from such situations, a tactical weapon that continues to bear fruit.
