Martinelli Hat-Trick Sends Arsenal Into FA Cup Fourth Round
Sports Updated: 11 January 2026 19:39 EAT
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Arsenal progressed to the FA Cup fourth round with a commanding 4–1 win over Portsmouth in the third-round single-leg tie. Portsmouth had stunned the visitors with an early goal from Colby Bishop, but the Premier League side quickly settled and began to dictate the tempo of the match through sustained possession and attacking pressure.
Gabriel Martinelli delivered a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick to spearhead Arsenal’s comeback. The Brazilian forward was sharp and clinical in front of goal, capitalising on defensive gaps to turn the game around before halftime and extending Arsenal’s lead in the second half.
Despite spirited efforts and several substitutions, Portsmouth were unable to contain Arsenal’s pace and movement. Arsenal controlled proceedings in the closing stages, limiting clear chances and comfortably seeing out the match, with Martinelli deservedly named Player of the Match.
Arteta: “We started exactly how we didn't want to, giving them hope and momentum, and an early goal.
“But then we managed to turn things around, starting to be more dominant, scoring from set pieces, and we made a difference there. And yeah, some positives to take, and some other things that we have to be better as well.”
Arteta On the positives: “Well, the fact that we made 10 changes, for example, and when you do that, there are certain cohesion that is missing, certain players that obviously haven't played a minute, so they're understanding the level of rhythm that you need in the way that we play is not there.
“But then, yeah, having Kai [Havertz], for example, Marli [Salmon] making his debut, Gaby Martinelli gettng a Hattrick in an unusual way, that's all very positive.”
Arteta on what he told the players at half-time against Portsmouth: “We weren't individually at a certain level, especially technically, to get out of the press and at this level, you need to do those basics and those habits much better than we've done.
“We changed certain things in the structure to allow us more time and better options. And when we started to do that, obviously, they suffered more.”
Arteta on Havertz: “Last few minutes, I was just watching him move and his awareness, the way he needs to move, when he needs to move, in relation to what he moves.
“It's just great to watch. We miss him big time. He's back with us and now we need to maintain his fitness because he's a very important player for us.”
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FELIX MAKONA
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