Gabriel Martinelli silenced recent doubters by scoring a brilliant hat-trick to lead Arsenal to a 4-1 victory over Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round. The Gunners came from behind to advance comfortably, showcasing their depth despite making ten changes to the starting lineup.
Portsmouth stunned the visitors early when Colby Bishop capitalised on a Kepa Arrizabalaga parry to put the Championship side ahead after just three minutes. Arsenal responded quickly, however, levelling through an own goal by Andre Dozzell from a corner and then taking the lead via Martinelli’s first of the afternoon.
Key moments and set-piece dominance
Arsenal’s turnaround began with their set pieces proving decisive once again. They scored three goals from corners in the match, taking their season tally from dead-ball situations to 22 across all competitions. Martinelli netted twice from Noni Madueke deliveries, with the first equalising after an early scare and the second putting Arsenal 2-1 up.
Noni Madueke won a penalty to make it 3-1, but he blazed his spot-kick wide. Portsmouth briefly threatened through Conor Chaplin, only for Ben White to produce a crucial block. Martinelli then completed his hat-trick with a simple tap-in from a Gabriel Jesus cross following a quick free-kick.
The Brazilian could have added more, having hit the post from close range and missed other chances. His sharpness stood out, especially given limited recent starts in the Premier League.
Squad depth shines and Arteta’s verdict
Mikel Arteta rotated heavily, handing starts to Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and others while resting key players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba. Kai Havertz made his first appearance since the season opener, and 16-year-old Marli Salmon became the youngest Arsenal player in FA Cup history.
Arteta acknowledged a slow start that handed Portsmouth momentum but praised the response. He stressed the importance of defending the club’s reputation in such fixtures and noted that cohesion and technical execution were missing at times due to the changes. Still, he highlighted how every squad member will be vital in the busy schedule ahead.
The win sets up Arsenal for the fourth-round draw and shifts focus to the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea. With strong depth on display, the Gunners look equipped to challenge across multiple fronts despite some injury concerns at the back.
