Portsmouth vs Arsenal – Match Summary
Arsenal overcame an early scare at Fratton Park to cruise into the next round of the FA Cup with a convincing 4–1 victory over Portsmouth. Colby Bishop gave the League One side a dream start in the 3rd minute, but a devastating hat-trick from Gabriel Martinelli ensured the Gunners avoided an upset. Despite Noni Madueke missing a penalty in the first half, Arsenal’s quality shone through, creating 6 Big Chances to Portsmouth’s 1.
Portsmouth vs Arsenal – Final Score
Portsmouth 1–4 Arsenal
(HT: 1–2)
Goals:
- 3’ — Bishop (POR)
- 8’ — Dozzell (OG) (ARS)
- 25’ — Martinelli (ARS)
- 51’ — Martinelli (ARS)
- 72’ — Martinelli (ARS)
Portsmouth vs Arsenal – Timeline & Events
- 3’ — ⚽ GOAL! Fratton Park erupts! Colby Bishop fires Portsmouth into an early lead. (1–0)
- 8’ — ⚽ OWN GOAL! Disaster for Pompey as Andre Dozzell deflects the ball into his own net just five minutes later. (1–1)
- 25’ — ⚽ GOAL! Arsenal take the lead. Gabriel Martinelli finishes coolly after being set up by Noni Madueke. (1–2)
- 40’ — 🚑 Injury: Harvey Blair (Portsmouth) is forced off; replaced by Franco Umeh.
- 43’ — ❌ PENALTY MISSED! Noni Madueke steps up for Arsenal but fails to convert from the spot.
- 45’ — 🟨 Card: Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) booked.
- 51’ — ⚽ GOAL! Martinelli grabs his second immediately after the break, assisted by Gabriel Jesus. (1–3)
- 55’ — 🟨 Card: Luke Le Roux (Portsmouth) booked.
- 72’ — ⚽ HAT-TRICK! Gabriel Martinelli seals a memorable performance with his third goal, again assisted by Madueke. (1–4)
First Half Analysis
The game began at a frantic pace. Portsmouth stunned the Premier League giants early on, but their lead lasted only five minutes before an unfortunate own goal leveled the scores. Arsenal dominated possession (61%) and looked dangerous every time they went forward. Although Madueke missed a penalty, Martinelli’s first goal gave Arsenal the advantage going into the break.
Second Half Analysis
Arsenal asserted total control in the second half. Martinelli killed the game off within six minutes of the restart, and Portsmouth struggled to cope with the Gunners’ movement. Arsenal created 6 Big Chances in total, showcasing their attacking depth even with a rotated squad. Portsmouth fought hard, managing 13 shots, but lacked the clinical edge to trouble Kepa Arrizabalaga further.
- xG Reality Check: Portsmouth 1.06 | Arsenal 2.89
Key Match Factors
- Martinelli’s Masterclass: The Brazilian was unplayable, scoring 3 goals from 3 shots on target.
- Creative Force: Noni Madueke may have missed a penalty, but he provided 2 assists to fuel the attack.
- Defensive Fragility: Portsmouth conceded an unfortunate own goal early, which completely shifted the momentum.
- Big Chances: Arsenal created 6 Big Chances, converting their dominance into a comfortable scoreline.
Player of the Match
🏆 Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
A ruthless display of finishing. Scored a hat-trick to single-handedly take the game away from Portsmouth.
Portsmouth vs Arsenal – Player Ratings
| Portsmouth | Rating | Arsenal | Rating |
| Bursik | 5.0 | Arrizabalaga | 7.0 |
| Devlin | 6.0 | White | 6.8 |
| Poole | 5.5 | Norgaard | 7.0 |
| Shaughnessy | 5.5 | Gabriel | 7.5 |
| Swanson | 6.0 | Lewis-Skelly | 6.5 |
| Dozzell | 5.0 | Nwaneri | 7.0 |
| Le Roux | 6.0 | Merino | 7.5 |
| Segecic | 6.0 | Eze | 7.0 |
| Chaplin | 6.5 | Madueke | 7.5 |
| Blair | 6.0 | Jesus | 7.5 |
| Bishop | 7.0 | Martinelli (MOTM) | 9.5 |
Portsmouth vs Arsenal – Match Stats
| Stat | Portsmouth | Arsenal |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.06 | 2.89 |
| xG on Target (xGOT) | 1.25 | 1.70 |
| Possession | 39% | 61% |
| Total Shots | 13 | 15 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 4 |
| Big Chances | 1 | 6 |
| Corners | 6 | 8 |
| Passes (Accuracy) | 196 (72%) | 372 (84%) |
| Fouls | 16 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 1 | 4 |
Top 5 Performers
- Gabriel Martinelli (ARS): Hat-trick hero.
- Noni Madueke (ARS): Despite the penalty miss, he was a constant threat with 2 assists.
- Gabriel Jesus (ARS): Provided an assist and linked play beautifully (Rating: 7.5).
- Colby Bishop (POR): Gave the home fans a moment to cherish with the opening goal.
- Mikel Merino (ARS): Controlled the midfield battle comfortably.
Underperformers / Weak Links
- Andre Dozzell (POR): Scored the own goal that allowed Arsenal back into the game immediately.
- Portsmouth Defense: Conceded 4 goals and 6 Big Chances; struggled to track runners into the box.
Substitutions Impact
- Franco Umeh (POR): Came on for the injured Blair in the first half. (Rating: 5.8)
- Kai Havertz (ARS): Replaced Jesus (69′) to keep the attack fresh. (Rating: 6.5)
- Ben White (ARS): Subbed off early (69′) after picking up a yellow card.
Tactical Breakdown
Portsmouth:
- Direct Approach: Tried to bypass midfield with long passes (31% accuracy on long balls) but struggled to retain possession.
- Early Press: Caught Arsenal cold in the first 5 minutes but couldn’t sustain the intensity.
Arsenal:
- Wing Play: Heavily utilized Martinelli and Madueke on the flanks to stretch the Portsmouth defense.
- Clinical Counter-Attacking: Punished Portsmouth’s errors ruthlessly.
What This Result Means
- Portsmouth: Bow out of the FA Cup but can be proud of their early effort against top-tier opposition.
- Arsenal: Move safely into the next round, resting key players later in the game while boosting Martinelli’s confidence.
Portsmouth vs Arsenal – FAQs
Q: Who won the Portsmouth vs Arsenal match?
A: Arsenal won 4–1.
Q: Who scored the goals?
A: Colby Bishop scored for Portsmouth. Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick for Arsenal, plus an own goal from Andre Dozzell.
Q: Did anyone miss a penalty?
A: Yes, Noni Madueke missed a penalty for Arsenal in the 43rd minute.
Q: Who was Player of the Match?
A: Gabriel Martinelli.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Is a hat-trick enough to cement Martinelli’s spot in the starting XI for the league?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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