Gabriel Martinelli delivered a stunning hat-trick to propel Arsenal into the fourth round of the FA Cup, as Mikel Arteta's side overcame an early scare to defeat Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton Park.
Pompey's Dream Start Quickly Fades
The Championship strugglers, who famously won the competition in 2008, made a dream start. Colby Bishop stunned the Premier League leaders after just three minutes, capitalising on a Kepa Arrizabalaga save to poke the home side into a shock lead. However, the jubilation was short-lived. Arsenal's renowned set-piece prowess came to the fore five minutes later when a corner caused chaos, resulting in an unfortunate own goal from Portsmouth's Andre Dozzell to level the scores.
Martinelli Silences the Boo-Boys in Style
All eyes were on Gabriel Martinelli, who had been targeted by home fans following a midweek incident involving Liverpool's Conor Bradley. The Brazilian responded in the perfect manner. He put Arsenal ahead in the 25th minute with a clever near-post header from another corner. After Noni Madueke missed a penalty before half-time, Martinelli took centre stage after the break. He added a second goal early in the second half and completed his first senior hat-trick with yet another header from a corner late on, capping a memorable personal performance.
Arsenal's Strength and Lingering Questions
The victory highlighted Arsenal's formidable squad depth, with Arteta fielding a strong side despite resting key figures like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. The game also underscored their status as set-piece specialists; three of their four goals originated from corners, taking their tally from such situations to an impressive 17 for the season. However, the match did little to solve Arteta's striker dilemma. With Viktor Gyokeres struggling for form, neither Gabriel Jesus nor the returning Kai Havertz managed to find the net, leaving questions over the central striking role unanswered as Arsenal advance to Monday's draw.
