The magic of the FA Cup often lies in the potential for a giant-killing, and for five fleeting minutes at Fratton Park, it seemed as though Portsmouth might provide the shock of the 2025/26 third round. However, class eventually told as Arsenal, spearheaded by a clinical Gabriel Martinelli, dismantled their hosts to secure a -1 victory. The result sends Mikel Arteta’s men comfortably into the fourth round, fueled by a hat-trick that reminded the footballing world of Martinelli’s world-class predatory instincts.
A Shock To The System At Fratton Park
The match began with a deafening roar from the home crowd, and that energy translated immediately onto the pitch. In the 2nd minute, Portsmouth stunned the Premier League giants with a goal of breathtaking simplicity. Exploiting a momentary lapse in the Arsenal backline, the hosts launched a swift attack down the left wing. The ball was fizzed into the area where Colby Bishop showed immense composure, rushing in to side-foot a right-footed shot into the middle of the net.
The early deficit served as a wake-up call for the Gunners. Faced with an uphill battle in a hostile environment, Arsenal immediately monopolized possession, shifting Portsmouth’s defensive block from side to side in a desperate search for an immediate response.
The Gunners Fire Back
Arsenal’s resilience has been a hallmark of their campaign, and it took only five minutes to restore parity. In the 7th minute, a whipped corner caused chaos in the Portsmouth six-yard box. As the defenders failed to clear their lines, the ball fell kindly to Norgaard, who reacted quickest to poke the ball home and level the score at 1-1.
With the momentum firmly back in their favor, Arsenal began to suffocate the game. Noni Madueke, starting on the right flank, became a constant thorn in Portsmouth's side. In the 22nd minute, Madueke delivered a pinpoint corner that found the leaping Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian winger timed his jump to perfection, powering a header into the back of the net to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Arsenal had a golden opportunity to put the tie to bed before the interval. In the 41st minute, the referee pointed to the spot after a clumsy challenge in the box. However, Noni Madueke saw his penalty saved, a rare blemish on an otherwise dominant first-half performance.
Martinelli’s Clinical Double Seals The Tie
The second half was a story of Arsenal’s surgical efficiency and Portsmouth’s waning energy. Just five minutes after the restart, the Gunners effectively ended the contest. Following a cleverly worked set-piece routine, Gabriel Jesus drifted into space and delivered a cross that begged to be finished. Gabriel Martinelli duly obliged, arriving at the back post to steer a close-range finish into the net for his second of the afternoon.
Portsmouth refused to surrender without a fight, testing the Arsenal goal from distance. In the 77th minute, Terry Devlin unleashed a speculative long-range thunderbolt that looked destined for the top corner, only for Kepa Arrizabalaga to produce a stunning fingertip save to preserve the two-goal cushion.
The final flourish of the afternoon belonged to the man of the match. In the 71st minute, Arsenal’s dominance at set-pieces was highlighted once again. From another expertly delivered corner, Gabriel Martinelli rose highest amongst a sea of blue shirts to head home from close range. It was a historic hat-trick for the Brazilian, marked by his exceptional movement and aerial prowess.
Focus Shifts To The Fourth Round
As the final whistle blew after three minutes of added time, the Arsenal faithful celebrated a professional and high-scoring display. While Portsmouth can take pride in their early bravery and the performance of Colby Bishop, the gulf in quality between the two sides was ultimately insurmountable.
For Mikel Arteta, the match provided exactly what was needed: a chance to rotate the squad, a confidence-boosting hat-trick for Martinelli, and a safe passage into the next round of the world’s oldest cup competition. Arsenal now head back to North London, their eyes firmly set on an FA Cup run that could define their 2026 season.