Arsenal shook off a nightmare opening at a rain-soaked Fratton Park to beat Portsmouth 4-1 and book their place in the FA Cup fourth round, with Gabriel Martinelli stealing the show by bagging the first senior hat-trick of his career.
The afternoon began exactly how the home crowd dreamed it would. Portsmouth, roared on from the first whistle, struck inside the opening minutes when Colby Bishop reacted quickest after Kepa Arrizabalaga could only parry an initial effort, the striker following in to thump the rebound home and ignite the old ground. The match was briefly paused soon after for a medical incident in the stands, and when play resumed Portsmouth continued to play with the urgency of a side sensing a giant-killing.
Arsenal, though, steadied themselves and levelled almost immediately from a corner. The delivery caused chaos in the six-yard box and Andre Dozzell, under pressure, ended up diverting the ball into his own net. That quick reply calmed the visitors, and it also signalled what became the decisive theme of the tie: Arsenal’s set-piece threat repeatedly asking questions Portsmouth couldn’t fully answer.
With the game settled into a scrappy rhythm, Portsmouth still carried a threat on the break, Harvey Blair in particular giving Arsenal’s rotated back line uncomfortable moments. But Arsenal’s quality began to show in bursts, and they moved in front midway through the first half when Martinelli met another excellent corner with a firm header to make it 2-1. From there, chances arrived for Arsenal to put the contest out of reach before the interval. Martinelli went close again after being slipped in, and later somehow failed to turn into an open net at the back post when a low cross flashed across goal. Noni Madueke then wasted a major opportunity to extend the lead when he sent a penalty wide with a hesitant run-up, leaving Portsmouth with genuine belief heading into half-time.
That belief was evident early in the second half as Portsmouth tried to force their way back into the tie, winning territory and threatening from set plays of their own. But Arsenal’s control grew, and the two-goal cushion finally arrived when Martinelli timed his run to the far post and bundled in from close range after a low ball across the face of goal. Any lingering doubt was removed minutes later as Portsmouth again failed to clear a corner properly and Martinelli completed his treble with another header, the ball squeezing through the goalkeeper’s hands and into the roof of the net.
There were notable cameos as the game opened up: Kai Havertz returned from injury to get minutes in his legs, while Arsenal’s rotation still had enough bite to keep Portsmouth pinned back for long spells. Portsmouth’s fight never disappeared, but the difference in depth and sharpness became increasingly obvious as the second half wore on.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta pointed to the rocky start and the challenges of changing so many players at once, admitting his side began by handing Portsmouth momentum and “hope,” before improving as they started to do the basics properly and impose themselves. He also praised Martinelli’s response to recent scrutiny, saying it takes a “big personality” to move on quickly in a big club environment and deliver, highlighting the forward’s intensity and mentality.
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho, while conceding Arsenal’s superiority on the day, felt his team were in the contest for long stretches. He noted there were periods—particularly at the start and again after the break—when Portsmouth were more than competitive, even if Arsenal ultimately deserved to go through.
In the end, Portsmouth delivered an early jolt and a spirited display, but Arsenal’s set-piece power and Martinelli’s ruthless finishing turned a potential banana skin into a convincing win.
