Arsenal secured a comfortable passage into the FA Cup fourth round for the first time in three years, overcoming an early scare to defeat a spirited Portsmouth side 4-1 at Fratton Park. The victory, engineered by a Gabriel Martinelli hat-trick, was a showcase of the Gunners’ most potent modern weapon: their set-piece mastery.
The magic of the cup was alive and well in the opening minutes as Portsmouth, dreaming of a giant-killing, took a shock lead. Just three minutes in, Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga parried a routine shot straight into the path of Colby Bishop, who tapped home to send the home fans into raptures.
However, the lead was short-lived. True to their ‘Set-Piece FC’ moniker, Arsenal drew level just five minutes later. Eberechi Eze’s out-swinging corner caused chaos in the six-yard box, with the final touch adjudged to have come off Portsmouth defender Andre Dozzell for an own goal, despite Arsenal protests that Christian Nørgaard had scored.
The Gunners then took control from another dead ball. After Noni Madueke had a penalty saved following a stuttered run-up, he atoned by whipping in a perfect corner for Gabriel Martinelli to power home a near-post header, giving Arsenal a lead they would not relinquish.
Portsmouth fought valiantly, with Conor Chaplin denied by a superb Ben White block early in the second half. That missed chance proved pivotal. Arsenal soon delivered the knockout blow, a moment of ingenuity from young left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly. Spotting Gabriel Jesus in space from a quick free-kick, his pass found the Brazilian, whose sublime first-time cross was turned in at the far post by the arriving Martinelli for his second.
With the tie settled, Mikel Arteta introduced returning stars Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber to valuable minutes. The scoring was completed in familiar fashion. Once again, a Noni Madueke corner found the head of Gabriel Martinelli, who completed his hat-trick with another precise finish, cementing a dominant victory.
For Arsenal, the match was a perfect cup exercise. They survived an early storm, showcased their overwhelming strength from set-pieces, gave minutes to squad players and returning stars, and saw their Brazilian forward, Gabriel Martinelli (9/10), answer his critics from the Liverpool draw with a decisive match-winning performance.
Portsmouth exited with pride, having given a strong account of themselves against Premier League opposition, but ultimately they were undone by the relentless aerial threat and quality of an Arsenal side that has its sights firmly set on ending a six-year trophy drought in the competition they have won a record 14 times.
