Martinelli Masterclass: Arsenal Survive Early Scare to Crush Portsmouth 4-1

Fratton Park — It began with a shock to the system but ended in a rout, as Gabriel Martinelli’s first-ever hat-trick for Arsenal powered the Premier League leaders past Portsmouth and into the FA Cup fourth round.

Mikel Arteta’s much-changed side arrived on the south coast looking to shake off a midweek stalemate against Liverpool. Instead, they found themselves trailing within three minutes, igniting hopes of a classic FA Cup upset. However, the Gunners' set-piece dominance and Martinelli’s clinical edge eventually silenced the home crowd, turning a potential banana skin into a comfortable 4-1 victory.

A Frantic Start

The magic of the cup felt very real in the opening moments. Portsmouth, managed by John Mousinho, flew out of the traps and stunned the visitors when Colby Bishop tapped in a low cross from close range in the 3rd minute. Fratton Park erupted; for five glorious minutes, the Championship side led the best team in the land.

But the joy was short-lived. Arsenal responded almost immediately, relying on their dead-ball prowess to level the score. In the 8th minute, an Eberechi Eze corner caused chaos in the box, ricocheting off Pompey midfielder Andre Dozzell for an unfortunate own goal.

The Turning Point

With parity restored, Arsenal began to flex their superior quality. In the 25th minute, they took the lead through a familiar route. Noni Madueke curled a corner to the near post, where Gabriel Martinelli rose highest to head past goalkeeper Josef Bursik.

Portsmouth remained in the hunt, however, and were handed a lifeline just before halftime. Madueke, looking to add a goal to his assist, won a penalty but fluffed his lines, dragging the spot-kick wide of the right-hand post. It sent the hosts into the break only one goal down and still believing.

The Martinelli Show

That belief evaporated shortly after the restart. In the 53rd minute, Arsenal caught the Portsmouth defense napping with a quick free-kick. The ball was worked wide to Gabriel Jesus, who delivered a laser-perfect cross for Martinelli to tap in at the back post.

The Brazilian winger completed his treble in the 72nd minute, once again capitalizing on Portsmouth’s inability to defend set-pieces. Almost a carbon copy of his first goal, Martinelli connected with another Madueke corner to nod home his third and Arsenal’s fourth.

Verdict

While the 4-1 scoreline looks dominant, Mikel Arteta will know his side had to work for it after a sloppy start. The reliance on set-pieces—three of the four goals stemmed from corners or free-kicks—proved to be Arsenal's greatest weapon.

For Portsmouth, the regret will be their inability to hold their lead for longer than five minutes. For Arsenal, the night belonged to Gabriel Martinelli, whose ruthlessness ensured no upset would occur on his watch.

What's Next? Arsenal now turn their attention to a massive EFL Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Portsmouth returns to Championship action on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday.