Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli’s impressive hat-trick and more set-piece wizardry saw Mikel Arteta’s side ease into the FA Cup fourth round.
Gabriel Martinelli scores a hat-trick as Arsenal knock Portsmouth out of the FA Cup (Image: Catherine Ivill/AMA)
Booboy Gabriel Martinelli helped Arsenal shake off an early blow to beat Championship strugglers Portsmouth and avoid a potential banana peel in the FA Cup third round.
Colby Bishop was in the right place at the right time and took just three minutes to surprise the Premier League leaders and push the hosts into the lead. But the joy at Fratton Park quickly faded five minutes later when Arsenal’s set-piece led to an own goal from Andre Dozell.
Martinelli was targeted by fans after trying to remove injured Conor Bradley from the pitch in midweek, but completed the comeback from another corner in the 25th minute, giving Mikel Arteta’s side firm control of the tie. Noni Madueke had a chance to add a third from the penalty spot just before half-time, but his spot-kick went wide.
Unfortunately for Portsmouth, Martinelli was not in such a generous mood. They added a second and third goal after the break to give Arsenal a comfortable victory and set up a draw in Round 4 on Monday night. Here’s the thing about mirror football…
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1. Pompey’s quick start
Arsenal may have won the FA Cup more than any other team in history, but Portsmouth have a proven track record in the competition since lifting the famous trophy in 2008.
Pompey were currently languishing just above the Championship relegation zone and few thought they would pull off the upset, so Bishop’s goal inside three minutes was certainly not in the script.
The former Accrington Stanley man stabbed home after Kepa Arrizabalaga could only deflect into the path of the striker. It was a dream start for manager John Mousinho, but unfortunately things were almost for the best…
2. Set piece king
Three of Arsenal’s goals came from corner kicks (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Midway through the first half, as Arsenal’s red and white kits rushed to celebrate Martinelli’s lovely header at the near post, the chant that replaced the infamous Pompey chime echoed through the south coast air: “Set piece, ole ole again.” The Brazilian’s efforts ensured Arsenal had a 100 per cent success rate from corners in the match, but his first shot unfortunately found the back of Dozzell’s own net. Martinelli completed his hat-trick with a near-post header in the final minute, making things even more successful.
Arsenal’s set-piece wizardry is not quite the secret weapon it was previously touted, thanks to their incredible strike rate over the past few seasons. Sunday’s three goals means they have scored 17 goals from corner kicks alone this term. Will Arsenal continue to win the cup or the league? No one knows for sure, but one thing is for certain: the number of goals scored directly from corner kicks will probably increase significantly between now and May.
3. Martinelli silences the boo boys
Martinelli was booed by the home fans following his incident with Conor Bradley in midweek (Image: Mike Hewitt)
Targeted by the home fans in midweek in an attempt to move the injured Bradley, Martinelli helped Arsenal survive a difficult cup run and silenced the boo boys in style, scoring his first senior hat-trick.
The first was a deft header from the near post, and the second came just after the restart. He could have returned to north London with the match ball, only for a clumsy effort to hit the post after a quick switch just before half-time. His third? you guessed it. Another corner, another header.
This was a great afternoon for Martinelli and one that will live in his memory for a long time. The onus will be on him to replicate this form in the Premier League, where he has found the back of the net just once this season.
4.First Team Caliber XI
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Arsenal’s victory was the team Arteta named. Saka, Saliba and Odegaard were rested, but this was not a weak eleven.
Everyone in Arsenal’s squad, with the possible exception of Kepa, will have a chance to start regularly in the Premier League. And that showed as Arsenal upped the ante to finally beat Portsmouth.
The quality and depth of Arsenal’s squad will serve them well going forward, both in this competition and in the race for the Premier League title.
5. Ninth conundrum
The Swede’s position as Arsenal’s first-choice No. 9 has been called into question by the presence of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, who are both sidelined through injury, while Victor Goqueres has not achieved the heights expected following his summer move from Sporting Lisbon.
Jesus looked especially sharp despite having trouble finding shots against Portsmouth, while Havertz gave the impression he was leading from the front until he went down with an injury.
Neither Jesus nor Havertz were able to find the back of the net on the south coast, leaving Martinelli to take center stage. Has Jesus done enough to convince Arteta that he should be ahead of Gokeres in the pecking order? Probably not. However, with Havertz’s return, Arsenal and Arteta may have to think twice if Gokeres cannot rediscover his scoring touch in the coming weeks.
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