In a wet and windy match at Fratton Park, Gabriel Martinelli claimed his first career hat-trick for Arsenal, leading the Premier League leaders to a 4-1 comeback victory over Championship side Portsmouth and securing their place in the FA Cup fourth round.
The performance served as a potent response from the Brazilian winger, who faced significant criticism just days prior for an on-pitch incident involving Liverpool’s Conor Bradley.
The match began in dramatic fashion as the home side, playing with freedom despite their league struggles, took a shock lead after just three minutes. Harvey Blair found Connor Chaplin in the box, and after Kepa Arrizabalaga parried his shot, Portsmouth captain Colby Bishop was on hand to slam home the rebound.
The early goal sent the packed home crowd into a frenzy, but Arsenal’s response was swift and came from a familiar source. By the eighth minute, Eberechi Eze’s in-swinging corner caused chaos in the Portsmouth box, with the ball eventually deflecting off defender Andre Dozzell and over the line for an own goal.
Arsenal continued to exploit Portsmouth’s noted vulnerability to set-pieces to take the lead in the 25th minute. Noni Madueke delivered a corner to a crowded near post, where the unmarked Martinelli rose to power a header past goalkeeper Josef Bursik.
The Gunners should have extended their advantage before halftime, with Martinelli himself missing two excellent chances, first curling just wide and then hitting the post from close range. Madueke then had an opportunity to make amends for a mixed first half after winning a penalty, but he scuffed his spot-kick wide, leaving the score at 2-1 at the break.
Any hopes of a Portsmouth resurgence were effectively ended six minutes into the second half. A quickly taken free-kick by Myles Lewis-Skelly released Gabriel Jesus down the right, and his low cross was tapped in at the back post by Martinelli for a simple finish.
Martinelli then completed his treble and sealed the match in the 72nd minute, again rising to meet a Madueke corner with a near-post header that flew past Bursik. The hat-trick marked a personal milestone for Martinelli and highlighted Arsenal’s formidable set-piece prowess, with three of their four goals originating from corners.
The comfortable lead allowed manager Mikel Arteta to make significant changes, including the return of forward Kai Havertz, who made his first appearance since suffering a knee injury on the season’s opening day. The match also saw a piece of club history as 16-year-old defender Marli Salmon came off the bench to become Arsenal’s youngest-ever player to feature in the FA Cup.
The victory sets up a busy period for Arsenal, who now face four consecutive away games in four different competitions, beginning with a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea on Wednesday. For Portsmouth, the focus returns to their Championship survival battle, having shown spirited defiance but ultimately being undone by the top-flight side’s quality.
Arsenal will discover their next FA Cup opponent in Monday’s fourth-round draw, their quest for silverware on four fronts firmly intact.